LAS VEGAS — Nearly the Celtics’ entire rotation has multiple years remaining on their contract. One of the only exceptions is reserve forward Grant Williams.
The 6-foot-6 big man is entering the final year of his rookie contract next season and made an appearance at Cox Pavillion on Monday to watch the Summer League Celtics from courtside with Boston’s brass.
The Celtics and Williams have had the ability to talk about a contract extension since free agency opened on July 1st but Williams confirmed the two sides haven’t talked shop just yet.
“Probably won’t start for a while,” Williams said of negotiations. “We have a lot more things to accomplish I feel like as a team in case. If not, whenever Brad’s comfortable, that’s when we’ll start.”
Williams is set for big raise in his next deal after earning just $4.3 million last year. He posted career-highs across the board last year, shooting 41 percent from 3-point range with vast improvements to his free throw shooting as well (90 percent).
The Celtics have until late October to agree to an extension with Williams, otherwise he will hit restricted free agency in the summer of 2022.
“I think both parties are hopefully mutually understanding that we want to get this thing done and make sure that we come together and have a successful next few years,” Williams said. “Because I love Boston, I love the fact that I not only get to be there and be around the team that I’m with, cause I have great relationships with the guys. But I also just love the city and being able to live there.”
There’s no guarantee however that a deal gets done between the two sides though and Williams is adamant that the end result won’t impact his performance on the floor.
“For me, I don’t put no pressure on it,” he said. “At the end of the day, basketball is gonna be the same. You just gotta trust the fact that both sides are working to the right, optimal way. You have no pressure one way or the other. I have another year on the deal to be able to play, trust and luck. Do the thing that I love, whatever comes, comes. Whatever doesn’t, doesn’t.
“You just gotta approach it that way. You can’t put too much pressure on yourself or stress over negotiations. I’m here to do what I love and I’m here for a great group of guys that I want to be here with.”
In the meantime, Williams is thrilled about coming back to a Celtics roster with a pair of key additions to the bench in Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari as the team tries to get back to the NBA Finals.
“I look at this team and I don’t see many weaknesses,” Williams said. “Not only just defensively but also offensive creation and being able to make plays for one another. We have a lot of opportunities to play a lot of different lineups size-wise whether that’s a big lineup, small lineup, shooting, athleticism. Those are a lot of different ways we can really have this team go and I feel like Ime is really going to do a phenomenal job with that.”