Tag: Grant Williams

Celtics restricted free agent Grant Williams hosts a basketball camp at Boston University

Every participant went home with a team photo and a t-shirt as a souvenir.

Boston Celtics restricted free agent forward Grant Williams hosted a youth basketball clinic at Boston University this week, providing instruction and feedback in the sport that made him famous to local first through eighth graders. Participants learned the fundamentals of the game and received hands-on instruction from the former Tennessee standout and the staff at the B.U. camp.

Every participant went home with a team photo and a T-shirt as a souvenir, and the clinic focused on teaching principles in basketball and in life. Williams aimed to inspire participants to become better individuals and basketball players and help them develop on and off the court.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to get a look at the camp and Williams working at it for yourself courtesy of the folks behind the CBS Boston official YouTube channel.

Williams, unsurprisingly, had little to say about his free agency.

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Jordan Walsh on practicing with the Boston Celtics, meeting Grant Williams

Walsh mentioned meeting Grant Williams, who reportedly compared him to a bug and himself to a god.

New Boston Celtics wing Jordan Walsh recently reflected on his first practice with the Celtics and shared he enjoys the high level of competition he is finding in his first glimpses of NBA life.

The former Arkansas Razorback also discussed the counsel he is getting on changes in shooting technique and the importance of consistent footwork and game speed reps.

Despite minor frustrations and mistakes while he learns a new situation, the Texan appreciates the support he is getting, especially from team president Brad Stevens. Walsh mentioned meeting Grant Williams, who reportedly compared him to a bug and himself to a god.

To hear more of Walsh’s thoughts about his first practice with his new ball club, check out the clip embedded below courtesy of the CLNS Media Boston Sports Network’s official YouTube channel.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Are the Celtics dragging their feet with Grant Williams and Jaylen Brown?

The Boston Celtics are yet to announce a supermax contract extension for Jaylen Brown, and there’s no telling what type of offer Grant Williams will get in restricted free agency.

The Boston Celtics have two big decisions to make this offseason. First, the Celtics must decide whether to offer Jaylen Brown a supermax contract. Second, Brad Stevens needs to know where he’s drawing the line in matching a Grant Williams offer sheet. 

Since free agency opened on June 30, multiple teams have reached contract extensions with their star players, most notably the Sacramento Kings and Domantas Sabonis. Boston, however, has been focused on adding new pieces, starting with the Kristaps Porzingis trade and extension and the addition of Oshae Brissett in free agency. 

With other teams around the league prioritizing contract extensions over new additions, some Celtics fans have begun to worry whether Boston genuinely intends to offer Brown a supermax extension.

In a recent podcast by BlueWire’s “Green With Envy“, the show’s co-hosts discuss Boston’s current malaise and whether its slow movement is something to be concerned about or if it’s simply part of the negotiation process.

To hear more from the Green With Envy team on why it’s still too soon to panic regarding Brown and Williams’ future, check out the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Stein: Celtics ‘sending behind-the-scenes signals’ they intend to keep Grant Williams

It remains unclear how Boston hopes this scenario will end.

The Boston Celtics have reportedly been giving off signals they intend to keep restricted free agent Grant Williams around if possible according to new reporting from Substack’s Marc Stein. Per Stein, the “Celtics have been sending behind-the-scenes signals to interested teams that they intend to match any offer sheet for … Williams“.

“How binding, however, are such whispered claims?” asks the Substack reporter rhetorically. “The wait to find out how prepared … Boston (is) to stick to those stances is ticking down” in light of the fact that the Celtics — at least as currently constructed — would make themselves a second apron team with all the restrictions that new status would entail with the arrival of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement in force as of July 1.

“In Boston’s case, matching a theoretical offer from the Mavericks or any other team constructed with their $12.4 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception would push the Celtics more than $20 million beyond the tax line for the upcoming season,” notes Stein, squarely into second apron territory.

A deal to cut salary elsewhere would of course be on the table, but apart from reviving the notion of a Malcolm Brogdon deal bringing back a cheaper ball handler, it remains unclear how Boston hopes this scenario will end.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Charlotte Hornets strongly considering making an offer for Celtics forward

According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Charlotte Hornets could emerge as a contender to acquire Grant Williams in free agency.

Grant Williams is a restricted free agent this offseason after he and the Boston Celtics failed to reach an agreement for a contract extension last summer. Even though Williams has developed a reputation as one of the best young 3-and-D wings in the NBA, Boston’s cap situation is precarious after it acquired Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team deal.

As such, Williams could potentially find himself fielding contract offers that Boston will not be willing to match. Should Williams accept a deal from elsewhere, the Celtics would be losing a homegrown talent, with nothing coming back in return. Such is the risk of free agency.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Charlotte Hornets could become a threat to pry Williams away from the Celtics this summer.

Last season, Williams shot 43% from the corner 3 and 38% from everywhere else around the perimeter. Williams has proven himself capable of guarding multiple positions across the court, including some impressive performances against some of the best centers in the NBA.

During the playoffs, Williams also displayed a competitive edge that will endear him to coaches and front offices around the NBA. For his part, Williams appears to be approaching a potential change of scenery with professionalism and a zen-like mentality.

“No matter what comes of it, no matter what happens, you want to make sure you’re leaving a place with a good heart and good mind,” Williams told CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning on July 1. “I feel like I’ve done my best here (in Boston), trying to be not only a good person, but a good teammate. That’s just how you have to carry yourself wherever you are.”

If given the choice, Boston would likely want to keep Williams around, however, his growth throughout the duration of his rookie contract likely means he will get an offer that the Celtics can’t match. Unfortunately, the Celtics have other contracts to keep in mind, specifically a supermax extension for Jaylen Brown. Williams could be a casualty of his own success, at least in Boston.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Could a Grant Williams return to the Boston Celtics be market-dependant?

“If the market for Williams dries up, his return to Boston would become increasingly likely,” reports the Boston Globe.

While it goes without saying that there needs to be a ball club willing to offer a player money in order to get a deal done, in the case of Boston Celtics’ restricted free agent Grant Williams, a return to the team that drafted him may hinge on whether there is a market for the Tennessee alum in the wake of some serious spending on forwards in free agency.

“If the market for Williams dries up, his return to Boston would become increasingly likely,” reports the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, “especially after president of basketball operations Brad Stevens on Thursday stressed that ownership had given him the ‘green light’ to keep building a championship-level roster, regardless of luxury tax implications.”

That would likely still be with a payroll beneath the punitive second apron introduced in the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that takes effect today, but with competing ball clubs having splurged on depth at the 3 and 4, it seems more possible that yesterday a Williams return to Boston is on the table.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston’s Grant Williams not stressing slow start to free agency

The Charlotte native seemed more than content to let the process play out.

With the first hours of the NBA’s 2023 free agency period behind us and the available pool of spending power drying up by the minute, one might think that Boston Celtics restricted free agent Grant Williams might be getting a little nervous about his future.

But the Charlotte native seemed more than content to let the process play out in a recent interview held after hosting a youth basketball camp in Boston, instead talking about how he finds joy in spending time with children and sees it as an opportunity to take a break from stress. That doesn’t mean free agency is far from his mind (particularly as a Players’ Union vice president), with Williams also touching on the challenges of negotiating contracts and the importance of maintaining competitive balance in the NBA.

To hear more about what the Tennessee alum had to say about free agency, the offseason, his camp, and more, take a look a the clip embedded below courtesy of the folks at CLNS Media.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Report: Celtics’ Grant Williams ‘will likely have to wait out this initial rush of mid-level signings’ in free agency

Free agency for the 2023 offseason kicks off in earnest at 6 pm ET this Friday evening.

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Don’t expect a quick resolution to Grant Williams‘ restricted free agency with the Boston Celtics according to reporting from Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer. Per the Yahoo Sports reporter, “Williams will likely have to wait out this initial rush of mid-level signings to find an interested bidder.”

With wings and swingmen Max Strus, Kyle Kuzma, Donte DiVincenzo and Bruce Brown hot items in the 2023 NBA free agency rumor mill, it seems likely the Charlotte native will have to see how the teams with cap space or the full midlevel exception decide to use (or not use) their spending power on higher-profile free agents.

The Celtics’ intentions toward Williams may hinge on other potential moves for the club.

The two camps are actively working to see if a return is feasible, and those reports may also be factors that are slowing any resolution of Williams’ situation with the Celtics.

Free agency kicks off in earnest at 6 p.m. ET on Friday evening. That may be the inflection point for many of those free agents noted above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Might a Grant Williams sign-and-trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers make sense for all parties?

Would a return of Cedi Osman be enough for the Celtics in this case?

Might a Grant Williams sign-and-trade by the Boston Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers make sense for all parties?

In a recent article for Cleveland.com, Cleveland Cavaliers beat reporter Chris Fedor noted Boston might balk at a big enough offer sheet and that the “Cavs are monitoring the situation.”

“Cedi Osman’s expiring contract combined with some added salary filler and future second-round picks could be appealing to a cap-strapped organization in a possible sign-and-trade deal that would allow the Cavs to sign Williams for more than midlevel exception,” writes the Cleveland.com reporter, “similar to what they did a few years ago with Lauri Markkanen.”

“Would that be enough?” he ponders.

It certainly could be if there were no other offers out there — and that assumes the Celtics do not find a path to retain the former Tennessee player.

With free agency set to kick off at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, we will not have too long to wait in order to find out.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Will the Boston Celtics move on from Malcolm Brogdon or Grant Williams?

It seems like almost any move might be possible from Boston’s front office this offseason.

Will the Boston Celtics move on from Malcolm Brogdon or Grant Williams as the ball club continues to reshape the team’s roster to pursue a title in the 2023 season ahead? In the aftermath of veteran floor general Marcus Smart’s trade to the Memphis Grizzlies for star big man Kristaps Porzingis and its impact on the Celtics’ fans, it seems like almost any move might be possible from Boston’s front office this offseason.

The uncertain situation of Malcolm Brogdon, who was initially traded but ultimately stayed with the team, looms as one major issue that may need to be addressed by the team, as is whatever decisions the club makes regarding star wing Jaylen Brown’s potential supermax extension and re-signing reserve forward Grant Williams.

To hear what the hosts of the CLNS Media “Winning Plays” podcast had to say about all of the above, check out the clip embedded below.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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