The Boston Celtics did not have any players ranked in the annual HoopsHype assessment of the best players in the NBA by position that was published by our sister site. However, two Celtics centers were ranked when the HoopsHype panel assessed the 20 best players in the league at that position in terms of trade value.
In the dog days of summer, these assessments are the bread and butter of NBA coverage, and Boston has been well-represented as a team projected to contend for the 2023 NBA title.
Let’s take a look at the other big man rated among the league’s best centers, Al Horford at No. 19.
In this episode, we take stock of Boston’s embarrassment of riches when it comes to the players they can put on the floor together. https://t.co/t32s6qcBWQ
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 10, 2022
Robert Williams III - center - No. 9
“Williams’ value is intriguing to gauge,” opines the HoopsHype panel of the former Texas A&M standout’s trade worth.
“On one hand, he’s been invaluable for the Celtics in their Finals run and will earn just over the mid-level exception. At the same time, his availability has been poor, and he’s missed time at the worst possible stretches. If he continues to improve and plays in enough games, he could be … higher on this list.”
Ranked just ahead of the Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic and just below the Phoenix Suns’ DeAndre Ayton, Williams seems appropriately rated at the ninth-best center in the league next season in terms of trade value.
Report: Kevin Durant sees Boston Celtics as ‘desired landing spot;’ wants to play with Marcus Smart https://t.co/T7uVShEstL
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 10, 2022
However, when you take in the fact that Timelord’s health has been trending up even with the ill-timed meniscal tear last season and that he makes just $48,892,860 until the 2025-26 season, for teams trying to contend for a title, his value is considerably greater than in the league-wide context HoopsHype is addressing.
And with Boston trying to thread precisely that needle during the same window, Williams is more valuable to the Celtics than many of the players ranked above him for exactly that reason.
With recent offseason moves, Boston’s backcourt depth is very deep – but one guard stands above the rest. https://t.co/PVaSyhTllJ
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 10, 2022
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