Final summer season, Grant Williams and the Boston Celtics had been unable to agree phrases for a contract extension, and now, the Tennesse product might be a restricted free agent this summer season. In line with Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports activities, the Indiana Pacers are anticipated to be ‘within the combine’ for Williams this summer season.
“The Pacers are anticipated to be one workforce within the combine for restricted free agent Grant Williams as nicely,” Fischer reported.
As a restricted free agent, the Celtics may have the power to match any provide sheet that Williams indicators, though they probably have a quantity in thoughts and won’t wish to go an excessive amount of increased than that. In line with a Feb. 14 report from Marc Stein, Williams got here into the 2022 low season trying to earn round $20 million per 12 months.
After a tumultuous 2022-23 season, it’s extremely unlikely that Williams will fetch that type of wage within the free-agent market, which may permit the Celtics to retain one in every of their key contributors long-term. Until, after all, a cap area workforce decides that Williams is strictly who they want and makes a proposal that Boston wouldn’t really feel comfy matching.
Photograph by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE through Getty Photos
Williams, 24, has developed into one of many higher three-and-d choices within the NBA over the past two years. Defensively, Williams has confirmed able to holding his personal in opposition to among the league’s elite large males, together with present NBA champion Nikola Jokic, incomes him the self-given nickname of Batman.
But, throughout Boston’s most up-to-date postseason run, Williams discovered himself struggling to carry down a constant position within the rotation. There have been moments the place we noticed a real ground spacer and defensive wing stopper, and others the place Williams was simply one other physique to throw on the market and see how issues went.
Nonetheless, we’ve got since discovered that Williams was taking part in by damage and has undergone surgical procedure to treatment the difficulty forward of subsequent season. Nonetheless, we noticed what Williams can convey to the court docket throughout the early a part of the season when he flashed an improved offensive sport that included scoring off the dribble. Williams additionally appeared to be a high-level swap defender, able to guarding a number of positions on the court docket.
The Indiana Pacers will probably be one of many a number of rebuilding groups that present flirting glances in the direction of Williams this summer season, as many may view him as a possible tradition setter attributable to his fierce aggressive nature and willingness to sacrifice for the workforce.
However, those self same values would be the motive why the Celtics look to maintain one in every of their homegrown stars for years to come back; all that must be discovered is the cash. In any case, if Williams really values profitable, he’s already in the appropriate place.
