Celtics Losing Grant Williams in Sign-and-Trade Demonstrates Intention of NBA's New CBA

Losing valuable players who they would've kept under the previous collective bargaining agreement, and often doing so for a small return, is the new reality for the NBA's top-spending teams.

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Grant Williams would've loved to have stayed with the Celtics, and the franchise that drafted him wanted to keep him. Under the NBA's previous collective bargaining agreement, they would have.

In fact, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, when the two sides discussed an extension before the 2022-23 season, Boston was willing to meet the former Tennessee Volunteer's four-year, $54 million asking price, which is the new deal he heads to Dallas with, but wanted him to have to hit incentives to reach that figure.

Perhaps that would've remained a sticking point that drove Williams elsewhere. But the primary reason he's joining Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the Mavericks is the Celtics don't want to go over the second apron.

Had they retained the 24-year-old forward, it would've raised their luxury tax penalties for the 2023-24 campaign by slightly north of $40 million per HoopsHype's Yossi Gozlan.

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After trading Marcus Smart to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, there's no intention of salary dumping Malcolm Brogdon. It also would've been challenging to find a trade satisfying all parties that brought back a reliable point guard making less than the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, who's on the books for $22.5 million the next two seasons.

There's also the importance Brogdon's contract would have in any hope Boston has of striking a deal for Damian Lillard without parting with Jaylen Brown.

The squeeze the Celtics felt from the punitive nature of crossing the second apron, with punishments more severe for repeat offenders, and the franchise knowing it'll likely exceed that threshold if it tries to build around Jayson Tatum and Brown when their extensions kick in and the All-NBA duo's accounting for roughly 70 percent of its cap space, the organization couldn't justify pushing past that line this season for Williams.

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That's how the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement intends to create even more parody. It might backfire, and more owners could spend closer to the massive payrolls the Suns, Warriors, and Clippers, among others, are willing to fund.

Instead, situations where a player and team want to continue working together, but the consequences of doing so force the former elsewhere will become commonplace.

And like Boston getting back two second-round picks and creating an approximately $6.2 million traded player exception, and the Hawks sending John Collins to the Jazz for Rudy Gay and a future second-round selection, the return for the team shedding salary will often be underwhelming. Granted, Atlanta created a $25.3 million TPE in that deal.

It's the new reality for top-spending teams for the life of the current collective bargaining agreement. And this won't be the last time the Celtics lose a valuable contributor it would've kept under the previous CBA but can no longer justify retaining.

Further Reading

NBA Insider Says Multi-Team Deal Could Get Damian Lillard to the Heat

The Latest on Celtics' Negotiations with Jaylen Brown

Marcus Smart Wants It Known There's No Beef Between Him and Jaylen Brown: 'We're Brothers'

Jayson Tatum Reportedly Recruiting Damian Lillard to Join Celtics

Marcus Smart Discusses Celtics' Identity, Relationship with Jaylen Brown, Boston's Coaching Hires, and Pursuit of Banner 18

Brad Stevens Discusses Difficult Decision to Trade Marcus Smart: 'He'll Always Have Boston'

Jordan Walsh Discusses His First Celtics' Practice, Summer League Goals, and a Grant Williams Anecdote

Celtics Sign Forward Oshae Brissett

Celtics Reportedly Interested in Signing Terence Davis

Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis Agree to 2-Year, $60 Million Extension

Kristaps Porzingis on Teaming with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: 'I Think It Can Be a Great Combination'