Grant Williams Not Expected Back If Celtics Acquire Kristaps Porzingis

Like the trade for Malcolm Brogdon last summer, the Celtics are hoping acquiring Kristaps Porzingis is the move that puts them over the top.

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

As Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported, the Celtics are on the verge of acquiring Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team trade that would send Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers.

Wednesday is the last day for Porzingis to exercise his $36 million player option. Expect that to happen, making it easier for this deal to go through. He can then sign for four years and roughly $120 million, but Boston likely prefers to play out the season, meaning he could prove a rental.

There's also value in having a contract of that size if Porzingis got rerouted later this summer or around the trade deadline.

The former's merely brought up to account for an unlikely possibility. The Celtics are taking a big swing in working to bring the former All-Star into the fold.

He's coming off a campaign where he averaged a career-high 23.2 points, grabbed 8.4 rebounds, and dished out 2.7 assists in 32.6 minutes per game.

The seven-foot-three center wasn't far from making it into the elusive 50/40/90 club. Porzingis shot 49.8 percent from the field, drilled 38.5 percent of his 5.5 three-point attempts, and converted on 85.1 percent of his 6.4 free throws.

He'll give Boston more offensive firepower than Robert Williams or Al Horford.

Defensively, he's effective in drop coverage. His blocks don't fully capture that, but he swatted 1.5 shots per contest last season and averages just under two per game for his career.

The former fourth-overall pick projects to pair well alongside Robert Williams in the starting lineup. He can also share the floor with Al Horford.

If this trade goes through, as anticipated, Boston becomes better protected against an injury upfront or any age-related drop-off in Horford's production. The 16-year veteran recently turned 37.

However, it's fair to question how Porzingis will respond to being the third option in a contract year, provided there's no extension this summer.

And while trading Brogdon creates a path to keeping Payton Pritchard, this move would likely signal the end of Grant Williams' Celtics tenure.

According to multiple league sources, the completion of the Porzingis deal would likely mean that Grant Williams's time in Boston has come to an end.

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) June 21, 2023

It's possible to move enough money off the books to re-sign the former Tennessee Volunteer and add Porzingis. Wednesday's news that the salary cap and luxury tax levels are higher than projected, with the second apron being $3 million more than expected, makes that slightly easier to accomplish.

Still, Boston would barely have room under the second floor to maneuver. It's also possible a team with cap space, several of whom have expressed interest in signing Williams, inks him to an offer sheet too rich for the Celtics to match without exceeding the second apron.

It'll be interesting to see if the organization can get anything back for the 24-year-old forward in a sign-and-trade, knowing he's likely headed to a team that doesn't have to go that route to acquire him.

So, is Boston making a mistake choosing Porzingis over Williams?

The latter's younger, less expensive, more durable, and more versatile defensively; in this author's opinion, he's plenty capable of being the starting four as this team captures Banner 18.

But it's hard to knock the organization for a willingness to spend more to acquire Porzingis, who's coming off an All-Star caliber season and in his prime, turning 28 in August.

Like the trade for Brogdon last summer, the Celtics are hoping this is the aggressive swing that puts them over the top.

Further Reading

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

Celtics in 'Strong Talks' to Acquire Kristaps Porzingis

Celtics Add Former Teammate of Jayson Tatum to Coaching Staff

Scouting Report on Prospects Celtics Could Draft with No. 35 Pick: Marcus Sasser

Scouting Report on Prospects Celtics Could Draft with No. 35 Pick: Julian Strawther

Scouting Report on Prospects Celtics Could Draft with No. 35 Pick: Jordan Walsh

Examining How the Bradley Beal Trade Impacts the Celtics

Rick Barry Says Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Suffer From “Westbrook Syndrome”

Rick Barry Discusses Nearly Joining Celtics, Shares His Perspective on Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson

Juhann Begarin and Yam Madar Reportedly Won't Suit Up for Celtics at Summer League