Jayson Tatum bids farewell to former Celtics teammates Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon.
“Toughest part about this business, appreciate you for everything.”
Jayson Tatum praised former teammates Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon on Instagram late Sunday night.
Brogdon and Williams were dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the deal that brought Jrue Holiday to Boston.
“This one hurt,” Tatum, who has usually praised Williams, said. My brother is standing right here. The most difficult aspect of our business, thank you for everything. I’m quite proud of the player you’ve developed and want to see how far you can push it. Continue to strive to be unique while remaining true to yourself. My dawg 4L until we reunite. “There is nothing but love.”
He also praised Brogdon, stating, “True professional, nothing but love and respect for this guy.” Best wishes for the coming year.”
The Celtics don’t meet the Blazers until March 11, so Tatum will have to wait months to re-join his former teammates on the court – provided they’re still in Portland.
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Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics will have offseason hand surgery before entering NBA free agency.
Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics recently underwent left hand surgery in preparation for NBA free agency this offseason.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams underwent left hand surgery on Friday and is anticipated to be ready for the start of training camp in September.
Williams, 24, will be a restricted free agency this offseason after failing to reach an agreement with the Celtics on a contract extension before the start of the 2022-23 season. Whatever teams seek to sign the former first-round choice this offseason, Boston will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet Williams signs.
Williams has appeared in 288 regular season games for the Celtics since being picked 22nd overall in 2019. He has averaged 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 37.9 percent from three-point range. Williams’ versatility and ability to guard a variety of defensive spots has also made him a valued commodity for the Celtics throughout the years.
He set career highs in points (8.1), rebounds (4.6), and assists (1.7) this season while playing in a career-high 79 games.
The Celtics’ decision to keep Williams is a hot topic in Boston right now, especially given their cap position. The Celtics’ expected salary for the offseason is more than $160 million. The good news for Boston is that Williams is their lone significant free agent, but the bad news from a financial standpoint is that massive contracts await their All-Stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both of whom were named to the All-NBA team this year.
There is clearly a desire inside the team to keep the young forward, but Grant Williams will be seeking for a hefty increase in the offseason. The Celtics’ ability to keep their championship core intact could be greatly impacted by whether or not they pay him on a new long-term contract.
