Why The Boston Celtics’ Grant Williams Could Be On The Move In The New Year

The Boston Celtics had a merry Christmas weekend, putting together back-to-back wins over the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks, increasing their record to 24-10 and climbing back to first place in the Eastern Conference. Despite the encouraging performance, the Celtics still could be looking to make changes by the February 9 trade deadline. If so, Grant Williams could end up being the player most likely to find his way to a different team by then.

On Christmas Day, Boston beat Milwaukee 139-118 in a statement game featuring Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combining for 70 points. That, however, doesn’t negate the fact that before winning these last two games, the Celtics were playing like the worst offensive team in the league

During their victory over the Bucks, Williams was Boston’s leading scorer off the bench, picking up 11 points in 26 rebounds. More impressively, he combined with Al Horford to put on a defensive clinic against Giannis Antetokounmpo. Williams has been an important player for the Celtics, particularly in his ability to act as a small-ball center on a team that has been thin at the big man position. He’s exactly the kind of player that the Celtics would love to keep as they aim to return to the NBA Finals—and maybe even win the whole thing—in the rapidly approaching new year.

Here’s the wrinkle: if the Celtics were in a position where they had to make a move, there are only so many valuable players they would be willing to let go. Tatum and Brown are clearly untouchable, Marcus Smart is arguably more valuable to the Celtics than to any other team and Boston was unwilling to part with Robert Williams last season. The most logical course of action would involve giving up a talented player, perhaps one who could be a starter on a less-crowded roster, who might not be part of the Celtics’ long-term plans.

Recent rumors have suggested that Grant Williams might be that player. The Celtics have financial reasons to entertain offers for him before he hits restricted free agency. After extending Al Horford at the start of the month, any serious offer they make to Williams would undoubtedly put them well into the luxury tax for upcoming seasons.

MORE FROM FORBESHow Al Horford’s Absence Proved His Value To The Boston CelticsBy Hunter Felt

Now, the Celtics will be able to match any offer a team makes for Williams in the offseason. They won’t have to worry about the possibility of him leaving in free agency and them not having a chance to get anything in return. After all, the C’s could still conceivably swing a sign-and-trade like the one which sent Terry Rozier to the Charlotte Hornets.

However, Boston would be in a better position to get a favorable return at the trade deadline when they would be at an advantage, particularly if several teams—rather than just the one who made the offer for Williams—were in the mix. If the Celtics go back to playing like they were this time last week, it would make sense for them to make a move looking ahead to the playoffs, perhaps for a more traditional big man.

Should it happen, the Celtics wouldn’t be making a move just to make a move, they would be aiming to receive players that could help them win a title right here, right now. Championship windows are only open for a short time and this is not a rebuilding team, despite recent evidence that suggests otherwise.

Ideally, the Celtics continue to play at a high level, keep the band together for one more playoff run and worry about Williams’s contract in the offseason. If the turmoil that the Celtics went through this December means anything, however, it’s that the status quo changes on a game-to-game basis. Should the Celtics feel that a shakeup would help their playoff chances, Grant Williams seems the most obvious trade candidate.