Grant Williams Discusses Marcus Smart's Departure, Free Agency, and Recovery from Hand Surgery

Thursday is the deadline for the Celtics to tender a $8.5 million qualifying offer to Grant Williams to make him a restricted free agent.

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The Celtics' decision to trade Marcus Smart in a three-team deal that brings Kristaps Porzingis to Boston is a three-pronged gamble.

It's a wager that, along with the former Defensive Player of the Year and heart and soul of the team, is likely to cost Grant Williams.

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Sean Deveney of Heavy reported the two sides will meet, and the Celtics hope to keep him in the fold. But the punitive nature of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement and the team's cap sheet suggest the 24-year-old forward will probably be playing elsewhere next season.

Before signing rookie Jordan Walsh, Boston's $7.3 million from the second apron, per Spotrac; unless the organization is willing to exceed that threshold, which seems unlikely and ill-advised, the path to re-signing Williams involves trading at least one of Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams.

But the Celtics can tender a $8.5 million qualifying offer to the former Tennessee Volunteer to make him a restricted free agent. That opens the door for a sign-and-trade to at least create a trade exception as he heads to a new NBA home.

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Tuesday, Williams was at a charity event in Foxboro, MA, hosted by athletic apparel brand Fanatics. Along with the company's CEO, Michael Rubin, joining him were Jayson Tatum; Jalen Mills and Jonathan Jones of the Patriots, plus team owner Robert Kraft; and the Revolution's Carlos Gil and Brandon Bye.

The North Carolina native conveyed the following about his upcoming free agency.

Grant Williams talks about his future with Boston & how he's feeling after undergoing hand surgery pic.twitter.com/KNmuVcLEyD

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 27, 2023

"Whatever happens. I have -- not much control in this because I allow my agents and everybody else to focus on that because my whole focus and goal has always been winning and making sure that team success has been the number one most important thing.

"And Brad and those guys, if they decide to keep me and bring me back, of course, I'm gonna come back and be excited and (be) happy and ready to play for the Celtics. If something else happens, then I'll have to transition. But for me, my outlook has always been that I want to make sure, wherever I am, to impact success and winning and make sure that I am there for my players that are around me. Focus on the team first, and whatever happens (in) this free agency, (that) will be that."

Earlier this month, Williams underwent surgery on his left hand. The procedure was to repair a tear of the radial collateral ligament of the third metacarpo-phalangeal joint on his non-shooting hand. But the expectation is he'll make a complete return to basketball activities in six-to-eight weeks.

Tuesday, sporting a cast on his left hand, Williams said he'll be ready for training camp.

"I'm feeling great. Physically, feeling really, really good. (I) had the surgery on the hand after the season. (I hurt) it in March, and (I) played through it the whole season. Re-did something or did something, I don't know what I did in Game 6, and then, I was like, 'yeah, we've gotta make sure we get this image after the season. They recommended surgery. It's the first surgery of my life, so (it) was very, very anxious and weird, but it's been an easy recovery. And I'll be back way before training camp like it never even happened. I'm all good, feeling all good, and ready to go."

He also shared his thoughts on the trade sending Smart, a nine-year veteran and, until now, the longest-tenured player on the Celtics, to join Ja Morant on the Grizzlies.

Grant Williams on Marcus Smart: "He was such a huge part of this organization... losing that is definitely going to hurt" pic.twitter.com/mKgZCFAbEQ

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 27, 2023

"It's something that definitely hurts a little bit, just because you've been with someone for so long. And he's a phenomenal person, a phenomenal teammate, and he plays with the most heart and passion of anyone across this entire organization and league.

"You have to understand that part of this is a business. You have to be excited about where the team is headed and what direction they're trying to take. You have to trust Brad, and you have to not really hold too much against it because we know that Marcus is going to be great wherever he goes.

"He's in a great situation with a talented team, and they needed him. They needed a player like that. They needed a player to defend and also be able to shoot and knock shots down and lead. And he's very, very able to do that, and this team's going to have to step up in that absence because he was such a huge part of this organization and this franchise and this tenure of Celtics history. He's a true Celtic, so losing that is definitely gonna hurt, but we've gotta wish him luck and pray for him along the way."

Further Reading

The Latest Intel on Celtics' Restricted Free Agent Grant Williams

Jordan Walsh Comes to Boston Eager to Learn from Celtics' Veterans: 'I'm Taking All the Advice I Can'

Jordan Walsh Let's Celtics Fan Know What He Brings to the Table: 'A Guy Who Wants to Do Whatever It Takes to Win'

Jordan Walsh Discusses Getting Drafted by Celtics, His Welcome to Boston

Celtics' Summer League Roster Taking Shape

Brad Stevens Shares What Compelled Celtics to Trade for Kristaps Porzingis

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

After Trading Marcus Smart, Acquiring Kristaps Porzingis, Where Do Celtics Go from Here?

Marcus Smart Felt "Shock" and "Hurt" Over Trade from Boston Celtics

The Latest on Malcolm Brogdon's Forearm Strain

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