Reserve forward Grant Williams and the Boston Celtics were not able to come to terms on the details needed to ink Williams to a rookie scale extension before this past Monday’s deadline, setting up the Tennessee big man to enter restricted free agency in the 2023 NBA offseason as a result.
Multiple reports suggested that there had been some progress made between the two sides, but with a similar player like Keldon Johnson receiving a four-year, $80 million contract ($74 million guaranteed) with the San Antonio Spurs, it set a high bar for Williams. And given the former Vol is a vice president in the NBA Player’s Association, Williams needs to be certain he sets an example of salaries advancing along with projected league revenue.
“It’s one of those things that you never want to take a bad deal for (anyone) around you,” Williams said. “The role that I play as VP of the Player’s Association, you understand where the league is going in the future and where the league is currently at.
“For me, it wasn’t a matter of life-changing money, it was a matter of value, not only for this year, but for years to come.”
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