The Boston Celtics have done an excellent job capitalizing on young talent in the draft in recent years. From finding their core with early picks to key rotational pieces with later selections, the franchise has done an impressive job building up a roster. One of the biggest benefits to hitting on draft picks is the cost-controlled contracts that they are on for their first few years in the league. Unfortunately, this does not last and teams are typically forced to pay up if they want to keep their homegrown guys.
This is currently the case with Grant Williams. The 23-year-old is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and will be a restricted free agent this upcoming summer. The Celtics selected Williams with the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 draft. Since this time he has developed into a key member of the bench unit and drawn admiration around the NBA. He is coming off the best season of his career where he averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while connecting on 41.1% of his three-point attempts. While Grant Williams is an excellent NBA role player, the Celtics must be careful not to break the bank when entering negotiations.
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2 reasons Celtics must be wary of Grant Williams contract extension
Inconsistency
When Grant Williams is at his best, he is one of the most entertaining NBA players to watch. This was proven in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals when the Celtics took down the Milwaukee Bucks. Williams let it fly and tied the NBA record for most three-pointers in a Game 7 as he knocked down seven in the matchup. The Tennessee product led the Celtics in scoring with 27 points and shot 7-18 total on long-range attempts. The Bucks sagged off Williams and dared him to beat them- and he did exactly this.
While this was undoubtedly an impressive performance, it cannot consistently be counted on by Williams. The forward was held to seven points or fewer in 13 of the Celtics' 24 postseason games this year. In the Finals, he averaged just 4.2 points per game and was just 3 for 10 on three-point attempts. While he is known for being a force on the defensive end, he found himself in foul trouble regularly which limited his minutes on the floor.
At his best, Grant Williams is absolutely a key rotational piece. However, he needs to prove he can be counted on to do this on a more consistent basis.
Financial Planning
The unfortunate reality of the NBA salary cap is you cannot pay everyone. Looking ahead to the Celtics roster, Grant Williams may not be the first guy in line for a new check. Al Horford will also be a free agent this offseason and it is unclear how much longer he intends on playing. Jaylen Brown will be an unrestricted free agent the following summer and has established himself as a cornerstone of the franchise.
The Celtics signed Robert Williams to a four-year deal worth $48 million last offseason. The big man proved to be a rock for the franchise throughout the playoff run. The willingness to play through pain and the ability to still have a major impact was impressive. While the franchise would certainly like to keep both, this sets somewhat of a market for what Grant Williams could make.
The news of Keldon Johnson receiving a four-year deal worth around $74 million will likely have Grant Williams licking his chops. The two are from the same draft class and Williams seems to think it is his time to get paid. Many have pointed to this deal as one that sets the market for free agents. It is important to note that the Celtics and Spurs are in vastly different places as franchises. Grant Williams should be aware of how much this plays a role as well. For Johnson, he is being paid as the best player on a rebuilding team. The Celtics do not have this luxury as they are firmly in the mix for championship contenders.
There also is reasonable skepticism about how much higher Williams' ceiling is. The pugnacious forward plays hard-nosed defense and is a capable rotational piece. But it is unlikely his game grows much more than this. The 6'6″ forward is absolutely a guy the Celtics should want in their organization. However, he is not a guy worth breaking the bank for.
It also is worth noting that he will be a restricted free agent next summer. This should give the Celtics more confidence in negotiations due to their ability to match the deal. Just as was recently seen with Deandre Ayton, the Celtics could allow Williams to chase his deal on the open market before making a decision.
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