“Not even with them anymore but this C’s discourse is wild. Everyone has a right to an opinion but JT (Jayson Tatum) and JB (Jaylen Brown) are Superstars. They are able 2 have bad games but we’ve all witnessed them both takeover. Don’t let recent events cloud your eyes from what they’ve done and accomplished,” stated Grant Williams on X, formerly Twitter.

While Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have struggled to make an impact in the first two games of the series, it’s important to remember that they were instrumental in leading the Celtics to the 2024 NBA championship. Throughout the season, both stars showed consistency. They returned from injuries and immediately played at a high level. That’s why hope isn’t lost. Their talent can still push the Celtics toward the conference finals.

However, an early elimination could bring big changes. Brian Windhorst reports the Celtics’ payroll is around $460 million. That makes it the most expensive roster in the league. With a new owner in charge, results must justify the investment. Titles bring revenue. Without them, the team may shake things up. They could trade core players and start a new project.

Boston Celtics face elimination threat as Game 3 loss to New York Knicks could end playoff run

The Boston Celtics are facing a must-win Game 3 against the New York Knicks. This matchup could define their postseason. A loss would not eliminate them, but it would create a nearly impossible 0–3 deficit. Winning three straight games against this Knicks team would be a massive challenge.

That’s because New York have built their identity around depth and balance. Under head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks do not depend on a single star. Instead, they rely on disciplined, team-oriented basketball. This makes them hard to guard and tough to break down.

If the Celtics want to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, they must start here. A Game 3 win would shift the momentum and keep their hopes alive. If not, New York’s chemistry and consistency could close the series early.

Tatum was bringing the ball down the court when Williams, disregarding any play on the ball, aggressively body-checked him, sending the Celtics star to the floor. Despite the incident, Tatum was tight-lipped afterward.

“I mean, I don’t really want to talk about it,” Tatum said when asked about the flagrant foul. “It’s just — got ready for the game today, we came to Charlotte and did what we were supposed to do, and we’re going to Atlanta to try to get another win before we go home.”

Tatum went on to say that encounters like this help him grow as a player. “They put Grant on me to deny, they didn’t want me to get the ball, they face-guarded me,” he said. “It makes you stronger, it makes you better. You figure out more ways to impact the game. Don’t limit yourself to just one way to be effective. I lift every gameday, so that stuff don’t really bother me.”

Jaylen Brown on Williams’ foul

Jaylen Brown was stunned by Williams’ action. “Like, what are we talking about? Y’all see the same play that I was seeing?” Brown told reporters. “He hit him like it was a football play. Like, Ray Lewis coming across the middle or something. It is what it is. Grant know better than that.”

“Actions speak loud… It is what it is. We got the win, and we move on, but there’s no place in the game for that. I thought JT and Grant were friends. I guess not,” Brown added.

Celtics HC praises Tatum’s response

After being knocked down, Tatum quickly got up and headed to the free-throw line, avoiding any verbal or physical retaliation—a reaction praised by Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

“I’m glad that he’s fine,” Mazzulla said. “What I like most is that he jumped right up, didn’t lay around, didn’t really phase… I’m happy that he’s okay… I just like how JT handled it, it was great.”

Grant Williams officially ended his time with the Boston Celtics after the 2022-2023 season. The process of being a restricted free agent was not easy for him or his loved ones, but it all ended when he signed a new contract to play with the Dallas Mavericks.

The process of a player leaving one team to join another is not as easy as people think. When a player becomes a free agent, things are easier. However, when a player is an RFA (restricted free agent), that is when the challenges begin.

The Boston Celtics had to allow Grant Williams to leave because they could not afford his asking price to play for another four or five seasons with the franchise.

What did Grant Williams say about being an RFA?

In a recently published article on the Dallas Mavericks official website, Mavs.com, Grant Williams opened up with Eddie Sefko about his deal to leave Boston, which he referred to about his RFA status as: “Very difficult. Restricted free agency is terrible,” “Unrestricted, you have a good understanding of where you want to go, but restricted, you’re pretty much in a waiting game.”

The restricted free agents in the NBA are the players who can sign an offer sheet given by another franchise and must wait for their current team to match the offer so that he can stay, but three days passed and the Celtics had no other option but to let Williams go. On that point he referred: “You want to make sure you understand what the offers are but also understand that teams might match or a team might be asking for more than another team is willing to give. It’s definitely an interesting process. I still think free agency is a little bit fun, but also a little bit nerve-wracking.”

Williams played with the Celtics from 2019 to 2023 and earned over $11 million during his time with the team. He is expected to earn about $52 million over the next four years with the Mavericks.

Now, they lost another key locker room piece in Grant Williams, one of their most versatile role players and a guy who could guard and play multiple positions and knock down shots from deep.

Williams will have a bigger role now next to Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, and the Dallas Mavericks. But he also knows that the Celtics could’ve afford to keep him if that’s what they wanted.

Grant Williams Discusses Boston Exit

“I had an understanding of that most of the way. I know how the numbers work out and yeah, they could have afforded to keep me,” Williams told The Athletic. “But it’s one of those things where you’re really committing and after the prior year, I didn’t think it was realistic.”

“Hey, Boston was trying to maintain their leverage,” he continued. “It’s one of those where you can’t be mad at them for it because it just shows they want you to be there in a way.”

At the end of the day, the Celtics don’t look like a much better team at this moment, and that won’t change unless they add some depth and strong characters to that locker room.

The Boston Celtics showcased their prowess by reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, but their journey ended in disappointment with a hard-fought seven-game series loss to the Miami Heat. Despite their efforts, the Celtics fell short of their championship aspirations.

In the wake of the playoff exit, the Celtics made a bold move by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis in a trade that involved Marcus Smart leaving the team. This transaction added a dynamic big man to their roster, providing a boost to their frontcourt presence.

The Celtics hope that his contributions will strengthen their championship ambitions and provide additional support alongside their core players, such as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. However, another player like Grant Williams could be departing.

Celtics set compensation for Grant Williams

In the next few days this potential negotiation should come to an end. Williams is a restricted free agent, but the Celtics have the right to match any offer. The issue for them is he may demand a higher salary than what they can offer him, so a potential sign-and-trade is expected.

Multiple teams are interested in the player, something that could force Boston to get rid of him. If that’s the case, they might have a substantial asking price considering his minor role in a contending lineup.

They could potentially ask for a first-round pick in return for Williams, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Despite it remains to be seen if any team would be willing to invest a high pick in the forward, the team can adopt a firm negotiation stance.

Grant Williams scored a three-pointer to give the Celtics a 96-87 advantage with six minutes remaining and talked in the face of Jimmy Butler. He answered with a tremendous shot while being fouled. A 3-point play.

Both got into a heated exchange of words which ended with a technical foul for both players. Jimmy Butler said this of the Boston Celtics while celebrating on the court: “They thought he was the answer. Come on! That’s your answer to the Jimmy Butler problem? That’s the answer? That’s the answer to the problem?”

Grant Williams sends a warning to Jimmy Butler

During the post-game press conference, Jimmy Butler stayed on the same line when a reporter asked him: “So, Jimmy, Grant wasn’t the answer. Was he?” The star from the Heat just said: “Hell, no. He wasn’t“.

Now, Grant Williams has answered prior to Game 3 which will be played on Sunday at Miami with Heat leading the series 2-0. “Jimmy got the best of me tonight, and at the end of the day, it’s out of respect. I’m not going to run away from it.”

Furthermore, Williams said he’s not going to give up against Jimmy Butler. “My mom always taught me…you don’t come back home until you come battle again. You either come back before you die or you come back and get a win. I’m not willing to die in the finals. I’m ready to get a win. I’m ready to come back and come into Game 3 with a better mentality.”

Off of it a lot of issues have centered around Draymond Green, who is being criticized for doing a podcast post games, especially considering his poor performance throughout the series. It was in Game 3 at the TD Garden that Celtics fans let loose on the Warriors.

Chants that were filled with profanity were hurled at the Warriors players, especially Green, whose wife came out on Instagram against what is being said to her husband during games. Warriors teammates Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have also come out against the fans actions during the game but Grant Williams is standing up for the home fans.

Grant Williams on Boston Celtics chants

When speaking to reporters via NBC Sports, Grant Williams stated, “Not the worst things I’ve heard, I feel like some of those chants, you just accept. Some people respond to them well, some embrace them; others, they shy away from them.”

Williams knows how passionate Celtics fans can get even getting on their own team when things are not going great. “I feel like the Garden fans don’t hold back. That’s what I love about them.”

“They’re going to be there for you on the positive side, and they’re going to let you know whether you’re doing the right thing or not. When we were losing last year, they were doing the same thing to us. So we respect it”, Williams ended.

Game 4 of the NBA Finals continues this evening and many observers will be watching Green and how he responds from the recent criticism. For the Celtics a win tonight positions them perfectly to win the NBA title.

Grant Williams is currently in his third season in the NBA. He has been key during the 2022 NBA Playoffs for his team. Despite he isn’t one of the best players on the roster, his coach Ime Udoka has trusted him through to play a significant role because of some injured players.

Grant Williams has averaged 9 points per game with 41% in Field Goals and 41% in 3-point shots. In addition, Grant has averaged 4rebounds with 1 block per game with 30 minutes of play, just in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

Grant Willliams’ contract

Grant Williams signed a 4-year deal worth $11,802,681 dollarswith the Boston Celtics. According to Spotrac, the Celtics’ forward makes an nnual average salary of $2,950,670. In 2022-23, Williams will earn a base salary of $4,306,281, while carrying a cap hit of $4,306,281 and a dead cap value of $4,306,281.

Grant Williams’ net worth

According to Spotrac, Grant Williams earns an average annual salary of $2,950,670 and a guaranteed salary of$11,802,681. His income source is primarily from being a NBA player in the Boston Celtics. Grant Williams’net worth is between $2 millionto $5 million. He doesn’t have any endorsements deals undisclosed.