The Celtics have a recent history of reaching extensions with their first-round picks, and Grant Williams hopes to be next, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Weiss reports that Boston has already started extension talks with Williams, who displayed his value during the team’s run to the NBA Finals. He provides a strong defensive presence off the bench and shot 39.3% from three-point range during this year’s playoffs.
Williams talks about wanting to play his entire career for the Celtics and help the organization add more banners to the rafters. Weiss notes that negotiations might be tricky in light of recent deals for similar players, but Williams expressed confidence that management will be fair with him.
“Just making sure that the extension works for both sides. My number one focus is winning,” Williams said. “You take care of the good guys. You take care of the guys that provide value to your team, both on and off the floor. I feel like the Celtics are feeling the same way. I’m not too stressed about the negotiations because I feel like both parties want to get a deal done.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- David Duke Jr. improved his chances for a standard contract after turning down a two-way offer from the Nets prior to Summer League, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Duke, who also had a Summer League offer from the Raptors, showed the most improvement among Brooklyn’s second-year players in Las Vegas, Lewis observes. “The great thing is I haven’t noticed anything other than complete professionalism and dedication to playing well and doing everything we asked of him: Attacking and being aggressive within the team framework,” coach Adam Caporn said. “I just love what he’s doing defensively, picking the ball up, setting the tone. He’s doing everything the right way.”
- The Raptors may be saving part of their mid-level exception to sign second-round pick Christian Koloko, Eric Koreen of The Athletic suggests in an overview of Toronto’s roster. Koreen adds that the team might also be waiting to to see if the Arizona center’s draft rights are needed in a trade package before officially signing him.
- The Knicks‘ collection of young players and draft assets makes them seem like a logical landing spot for Donovan Mitchell, but Fred Katz of The Athletic looks at why Jazz CEO Danny Ainge and New York’s front office might night not be perfect trading partners.
The Jazz are overrating Donovan Mitchell. He’s not Michael Jordan or LeBron James. He’s not worth 6#1 draft picks. If I’m the Knicks I offer 3#1 draft picks, Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose. Quentin Grimes, and Immanuel Quickley. That would definitely be my last and final offer for Mitchell, then I would just move on.
As a die hard Knicks fan I would hate to see us waste that many picks for him. I love Donovan Mitchell but not at the expense of 6 first round draft picks.
@SaucedaBoss- I’m a die hard Knicks fan also. Do you like my offer, do you think it’s fair? Would you trade Randle for Westbrook if we could get a Laker #1 pick included in the trade? Then Westbrook would be bought out.
Grimes and Quickley are both recent late 1st picks. Most of the picks new York has are highly protected.
6 protected firsts, Grimes and filler is Utah’s rumored asking price.
Your offer is 3 protected firsts, Quickley and Grimes plus filler. So essentially 4 firsts and Grimes plus filler.
So basically you’re going to draw the line at 2 extra protected picks?
@Tacocat1331- 4#1’s are way too much. I want to keep Toppin, and McBride out of a Mitchell trade. If the Knicks get a #1 from the Lakers in a Randle-Westbrook trade, the Knicks should just keep it. Trading Randle give Obi a chance to start.
I doubt the Knicks get a 1 from the lakers. They need to add significant salary to randle to make the trade work because they don’t have cap space to absorb Westbrook. They need a little over 17 million more to match and the only realistic way to get there is to add fournier, a negative asset on his own so I don’t see getting a 1st. I don’t know if the lakers would want to saddle themselves with that much long term money
Plenty of other teams could & would offer better packages. You’re basically saying you dw Donovan Mitchell. That’s cool but just understand that the Knicks will continue being irrelevant if they just go forward with their current roster
“But just understand the Knicks will continue to be irrelevant.
“Plenty of other teams could & would offer better packages”
You’re going to need to provide a source for this because very few teams have shown any interest in Utah’s asking price for Mitchell. Knicks, Heat… who else? And please don’t say Orlando again because there are no stories linking them to Mitchell.
Still rooting for David Duke. I believe …..
Thats a veeery tricky name there, how did his parents not think about that?)))
You guys understand that a protected first round pick from a bad team means that it likely won’t ever be a first round pick. After so many years it converts into a second round pick(s). That’s the real reason he’s asking for so many. Otherwise, if the Knicks offer their actual picks then that number might go down.