Today, we turn to a second installment of a recent article about the Boston Celtics put together by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley that examines a range of possible outcomes for the team this season. It asseses each outcome using different criteria to determine whether the outcome realistically qualifies as a hot take.
In the first, we examined the import of recuperating Celtics center Robert Williams III to Boston’s defensive prospects, and today we stay in the team’s frontcourt with more of an eye toward potential cap concerns. Namely, is it a hot take to say that rising reserve forward Grant Williams is pricing himself out of the future of the Celtics with his play so far this season?
“The Celtics had a chance to secure Williams’ future on a long-term extension this offseason, but they couldn’t make the numbers work,” begins Buckley’s argument.
Tatum spoke on Coach K’s recruitment trip to his home in Missouri and a couple of times where the now-retired Hall of Fame head coach pushed some choice buttons to motivate the Celtics star. https://t.co/1Cg68X5G56
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 31, 2022
The Charlotte native argues the B/R analyst, “wanted to get paid after breaking out last season, and Boston apparently balked at the price. That could be a decision it comes to regret, as that price point keeps climbing.”
“Williams (is) a versatile defender who has turned heads with his improvements as a shooter … if he maintains or improves on last season’s numbers while providing the same impact as a defender and energizer, his next contract could cost more than the Celtics can pay.”
Convinced? We aren’t either, given the state of the team’s cap moving forward.
We have to admit, they are solid comps. https://t.co/xk2okUDewu
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 1, 2022
If the former Vol does indeed make the sort of leap Buckley outlines, it seems probable the team will be fine with inking Williams to whatever deal the future restricted free agent can get an offer sheet for.
With the right of first refusal in their corner and Al Horford on an expiring deal, there are many ways Williams’ free agency could go, but we doubt any of them involve him walking away for nothing.
Thus, this is a mildly spicy hot take.
The Ticket and the Truth talk about an unexpected start to the 2022-23 season. https://t.co/X0PrTzQDkH
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 1, 2022
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