NBA Notebook: Grant Williams shares no regrets over leaving Celtics

Grant Williams awkwardly raised a hand to scattered applause as the Celtics briefly acknowledged him for roughly 10 seconds to end a first-half timeout on Friday. 

It took the former Celtic nearly the entire season to return to Boston, since the Mavericks team he signed with last summer traded him to Charlotte after only 47 games. Now, he looked on as the Boston reserves he once played alongside throttled his Hornets bench mates, 131-98, while the Celtics' starters rested preparing for a postseason run that'll stretch into the summer. Williams also sat, his year almost over playing through bumps and bruises, before Charlotte heads home likely to finish 20-62. Still, Williams shared no regrets on Friday morning about leaving the Celtics or choosing the Mavericks after shooting around at TD Garden. 

"I think it's part of life," Williams told Boston Sports Journal. "You go through things. Things happen for a reason. Going back and looking, what could I have controlled? You can't operate that way. You have to look toward the future and look at how you can either prevent things from happening the way they happened again, or come prepared or even better the next time." 

Boston signed-and-traded Williams to Dallas in July for three future second-round picks, later admitting that he expected to move on from the Celtics for cap reasons. They had already reorganized the roster by trading Marcus Smart for a pair of first-rounders and re-routing Tyus Jones to Washington for Kristaps Porzingis. Long before Jrue Holiday became a possibility in September, they drew a line and refused to meet Williams at four-years, $53.3 million. He reportedly declined a Boston extension offer that reached that ballpark, according to The Athletic, but fell out of favor as Joe Mazzulla took over, logging seven DNP-CDs between the end of the regular season and the playoffs after appearing in each game going back to the 2020-21 season and helping the Celtics reach the 2022 NBA Finals. He became part of a needed shake-up, and one of the best seasons in franchise history followed. Just as he applauded his former Mavericks padding their front court, he acknowledged Porzingis' post-ups have changed the Celtics' offense for the better. 

Danny Ainge had drafted Williams No. 22 overall in 2019 after Al Horford departed, restocking the front court and hoping to introduce a lively personality and smart defender following the tumult from the previous season. He became a media favorite immediately, playing Catan with reporters after his introduction, always smiling and regularly being willing to talk. An 0-for-25 start to his career from three turned into a small ball five role late in the season into the Bubble. 

An underdeveloped offensive game left him without many minutes in 2020-21 before Ime Udoka arrived and integrated him successfully into his switching scheme. Williams exploded to 41.1% from three, guarded Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in the playoffs, reaching his peak as a Celtic in Game 7 against Milwaukee by hitting seven threes left wide open. Yet Udoka and Williams had their spats, including a staged April Fool's Day fight during an April practice that shocked teammates, as coach and players alike shrugged off some of Williams' louder tendencies.

"First summer, just the way he worked on his game. Instantly became a guy who knew defensive schemes and could communicate those," Mazzulla said. "Just a guy that was well-liked around the locker room and the facilities. The conversation over how the defense had grown over the years started with those. Him talking and other people listening." 

The bad moments stacked up into last season. An elbow injury hindered his shooting, he guaranteed two free throw makes to win a game over the Cavaliers and missed both before Boston lost in overtime. He similarly took a game at Utah into his own hands before the buzzer and drove into a Walker Kessler block. Joel Embiid accidentally stepped on his head late in the year as physical ailments mounted before he suffered a hand injury that required surgery late in the Heat series. His defining moment last year became his Game 2 battle with Jimmy Butler, who poured in an and-one over the big man before he got in Butler's face, eye-to-eye, nose-to-nose, as Kevin Harlen called it. 

Some liked the competitiveness in a series the Celtics quickly faded down 0-3 in, while other teammates openly expressed that irking Butler wasn't the best idea. In maybe the moment that encapsulated his Boston career, Williams told teammates to call him Batman after limiting Nikola Jokić. Jayson Tatum, shaking his head, responded that he'd call him Grant. Williams later dressed as Batman for Halloween. 

Some combination of money, fit and fatigue ended his time in Boston shortly after, Williams considering several offers before landing in Dallas with hopes to improve his new team's defense while expanding his offensive game. His efficiency inside the arc sunk, something he experimented with late in his Celtics tenure to mixed results too, while moments like gathering the team into a training camp huddle showed how he tried to instill his voice immediately. 

Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said he just coaches the team when asked by BSJ why Dallas moved on so quickly from Williams, trading him with a pick for PJ Washington, before growing frustrated when asked to compare Williams and Washington, saying he'd only talk about Washington's impact without comparing them. Steve Clifford, his new coach, has enjoyed the Williams experience. In 29 games with his new team, he averaged 13.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 3.2 APG while shooting 50.3% from the field, a career-best 60.5% from two and 37.3% from three. 

"He's been great," Clifford said. "For us, he's brought a level of physicality and communication defensively that's been better than what we had before. From the time we picked him up until the Cody Martin, Seth Curry injuries, they both got hurt the first night, I think we were second or third in defense for maybe the first 16 games that they all played together. Once we lost those two guys ... we've struggled at that end, but he's brought that and then he has an element of playmaking that he's given an opportunity to do with us, because of our roster, that he didn't do here or in Dallas. He just had an 11-assist game, he had an eight-assist game right after that. So we've been playing tiny, which is a hard way to win, but I've still liked it, where he's at the five a lot and we've used him as the trigger man, the playmaker and he's done a really good job with it."

Williams faced his former team for the first time in Dallas, scoring only two points in 17 minutes and getting blocked by Tatum before halftime. With Charlotte, he attacked Boston in the post, drew charges on defense and held his ground when Porzingis tried to back him down. The Celtics pulled away late, 118-104, while Williams finished with 23 points and seven rebounds on 10-for-16 shooting (+0). His former teammates heard him again. 

Derrick White called him a hack, Williams said, who fired back that Boston fouled too, twice in a row at one point, but don't get called for it because they're light-skinned and pretty. Luke Kornet laughed remembering that night. 

"(He was) a lot of fun to be around and play with. He was a really intense competitor who was always locked into the game," Kornet told BSJ. "Really engaging type of guy, then also on the court, purposeful and mentally engaged, and then obviously physically, his ability to guard multiple positions, especially in the playoffs, he always met the challenge ... (he was) always trying to bring the team together and be a vocal presence ... trying to communicate and make sure everybody's on the same page ... just an intelligent guy and player. That stuff would come out when you're on the court with him. You start developing a little bit of a mental connection with people you play with and I feel like Grant was a really easy one to do that with because he's always trying to think and take away the best advantage for the opposing team." 

Kornet had faced Williams in college and knew his on-court demeanor well, but felt extra energy and communication with more demonstrative moments. He said Grant will do all that, along with trying to take on big assignments like Porzingis, for the rest of his career. The good side of Grant. 

Williams went on to take responsibility for the reported practice spat with Luka Dončić, calling it his job to challenge teammates. Draymond Green said talking too much got Williams out of Dallas, ripping him after Warriors-Hornets. Tatum defended Williams publicly when Celtics broadcaster Mike Gorman said Grant was annoying to everybody and his tendencies wore thin over time. That comment took Williams aback, he later told Stadium, and defended his relationship with old teammates. He expected a positive reaction upon returning Friday, and received one, but Boston kept the tribute brief. 

"I feel like it's mostly love and less hate," Williams told BSJ. "Those guys, more than any other in the league, it's one of those things where I look back, I'm just thankful (I was) allowed to be myself here. That's the benefit of having this team, a bunch of great guys, there's not a single guy on this team ... that are bad guys. When I came in, they definitely told me to shut up, but they still allowed me to be myself." 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week... 

Atlanta (36-45): Visit the Bulls on Wednesday in the single-elimination Play In Tournament game. The winner will advance to play the loser of the 7-8 game for a chance to play the Celtics in the first round. Trae Young returned on Thursday after missing 23 games with finger surgery, scoring 19 points with seven assists in a loss to the Hornets that doesn't project well for their chances against Chicago. Neither do additional injury setbacks for Jalen Johnson (ankle) and Onyeka Okongwu (toe), who have been ruled out for at least three and four weeks, respectively, likely ending their seasons. 

Boston (63-18): Secure the fourth-best record in Celtics history with a win on Sunday over the Wizards. Jrue Holiday signed a four-year, $135 million extension on Thursday that saves Boston some luxury tax in the near term in exchange for massive guaranteed salaries in Holiday's age 37-38 seasons. The fourth year is a player option. Neemias Queta signed a standard contract to join the active roster as the team's 15th player. He and the Maine Celtics will face the Oklahoma City Blue in the G-League championship on Monday at 9 EST in Portland. Boston will likely begin the playoffs on Sunday, Apr. 21. 

"It was an ongoing conversation," Holiday said on Thursday. "I thought (the deal) was pretty easy. Mutually, we came to an agreement and felt like this was best not only for me, but for the team. I just hope it works. I want to be here. I want to win multiple rings."

Brooklyn (32-49): GM Sean Marks will reportedly return for the 2024-25 season and the lead the search for a new head coach to replace the fired Jacque Vaughn. Kevin Ollie has served as interim head coach since that move, with Brooklyn one of three openings alongside Washington and Charlotte. Marks became Brooklyn's general manager in 2016. 

Charlotte (20-61): Pretty cool taking in one of the final Steve Clifford press conferences before he retires from coaching and joins the Hornets' front office. He sounded at ease with the past two injury-riddled years, thrilled with the chance he had to coach the younger players and looked forward to the drink awaiting him Sunday night. The Hornets will then begin their search for his replacement that's widely expected to include Boston's top assistant Charles Lee as a strong candidate. 

Chicago (39-42): Host the Hawks on Wednesday as the likely favorite to pull within one game of the Celtics in round one. Boston beat Chicago in all three meetings this year and Andre Drummond fell this week with an ankle injury after already losing Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams for the season. DeMar DeRozan's late game exploits make them at least worth considering as a team that could sneak past whoever loses the 7-8 play in game. Drummond and Bulls forward Torrey Craig pulled off arguably the worst play of the NBA season this week. 

Cleveland (48-33): Clinched a playoff spot above the play-in line with a critical win over the Pacers, securing the fourth seed at worst and their final game gives them an opportunity to move up to No. 2 in the east. They would need the Bucks to lose to the Magic and New York to fall against a Chicago team likely to rest. Orlando is currently the fifth seed opposite of them, but the Pacers, 76ers, or even the Heat, in a scenario where the three other contenders lose, could slide into a first round series with the Cavs. Cleveland will avoid an opening round rematch against the Knicks team that beat them last spring. Dean Wade's (knee) availability for the postseason is uncertain. Marc Stein reported rivals expect Donovan Mitchell could move this summer if he declines an extension. 

Dallas (50-31)/Clippers (51-30): The Mavericks clinched the fifth seed in the west and LA is locked into No. 4, setting up a third playoff meeting between Luka Dončić and the LA Clippers. Dončić forced a seventh game against the Clippers in 2021 after fighting them for six games in his second season almost single-handily. Kyrie Irving joins him for this playoff push, with a strong front court positioning Dallas to win this time. Dončić averaged 33.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 9.8 APG on 48.7% shooting this season, giving the Mavs a chance in any series. Irving played 31 straight games to close his own stellar, healthy and stable first full season in Dallas. On the LA side, Kawhi Leonard remains out with knee inflammation going back to Mar. 31, and while he hopes to be ready for round one, Dallas' stars will enter the series with more rhythm. 

Denver (56-25): Enter the final day of the regular season in a three-way tie for the west's top seed that would position them third, taking on the Pelicans or Suns in round one, if all stays equal after Sunday. The Nuggets visit the Grizzlies, giving them the best chance of moving up compared to fellow contenders Oklahoma City and Minnesota. Denver could've clinched the No. 1 seed on Friday, but Jamal Murray took too long to in-bound the ball trailing by one point in front of a raucous San Antonio crowd reacting to Victor Wembanyama's 34 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Denver throttled Minnesota in the second half on Wednesday. 

Golden State (45-36): Would visit the Kings in the 9-10 play in game if the postseason started today, giving the Warriors an uphill path to the playoffs. Their loss to the Pelicans on Friday locked them into that round, while Sacramento could still escape the matchup by breaking a tie with the Lakers on Sunday, who play the Pelicans while the Kings host the Trail Blazers. Golden State beat LA 134-120 on Tuesday in a potential preview of the matchup, taking 3-of-4 regular season matchups. The Warriors and Kings split their meetings. 

Indiana (46-35): No guarantee to finish above the play-in line after their loss to Cleveland. They'll play a Hawks team likely to rest on Sunday with nothing left to play for, with a win securing them at least the six seed and they could finish as high as fifth with a Magic loss. An Atlanta win could send Indiana spiraling as low as eight, and into a potential first-round series with the Celtics. Indiana owns the tiebreaker over Miami and Philadelphia, a key edge. The Pacers rank eighth in net rating post-all star break. 

Lakers (46-35): A win or Kings loss on Sunday locks them into the No. 8 seed, which matches them up at the Suns or Pelicans on Tuesday for the No. 7. The Lakers would get two shots at making the playoffs in that case after LeBron James hit his stride in Memphis, scoring 37 points alongside Anthony Davis' 36 to sneak past the Grizzlies. LA will play a close game every night, unable to create separation offensively, but their experience in close games makes them worth paying attention entering round one despite Denver, Oklahoma City and Minnesota looming large as their potential opponents. The Nuggets falling to three in a three-way tie gives some hope of advancing. Jarred Vanderbilt's (foot) status for the postseason remains uncertain. Darvin Ham had no update ahead of the team's final two games other than his workouts continuing.

Miami (45-36): The Celtics' most likely first-round opponent since they'll visit Philadelphia in the 7-8 play-in game if the standings stay the same. The Magic falling into that matchup below Philadelphia could change things, especially since Miami could steal home court with a win in that scenario. The Heat can also move as high as fifth in the standings if the Magic, 76ers and Pacers all lose, the most unlikely scenario, while Miami owns individual tiebreakers over Orlando and Philadelphia. Miami would advance to play the No. 2 seed, most likely the Bucks in a rematch of last year's first round, if they beat the Sixers or whoever falls into the matchup. They close at Toronto Sunday. Jimmy Butler, trying to lead the Heat to their third Finals over the last five seasons, could command Jaylen Brown supermax money in extension talks, per a report. 

Milwaukee (49-32): Beat the Celtics in dominant fashion at home again, Boston missing Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, in a costly victory that saw Giannis Antetokounmpo stumble to the ground with a calf injury that resembled an Achilles tear. Doc Rivers, sounding nervous post-game, acknowledged the severity of the injury before a scan revealed his Achilles remained intact. A soleus strain, nonetheless, knocked Antetokounmpo out for the rest of the regular season and could linger into round one even considering the five or six days off the play-in tournament will provide Milwaukee. Past calf ailments, like Kevin Durant's, evolving into Achilles issues could force the Bucks to lean on the side of caution while allowing Damian Lillard to carry them to begin the playoffs. Lillard, talking about suffering the same injury previously, described missing 17 days, a timeline that could drastically shift a series between the Bucks and 76ers/Heat if Antetokounmpo remains out for two more weeks or long. Milwaukee clinches the second seed with win over Orlando on Sunday, but a loss could drop them to No. 3 or No. 4 if the Knicks/Cavaliers win, the latter would put them in Boston's bracket. 

Minnesota (56-25): Own tiebreakers over the Nuggets and Thunder, but lose the three-way tie to Oklahoma City that they enter the final day of the regular season in. Karl-Anthony Towns returned from missing 18 games with a meniscus tear. He scored 11 points with eight assists in 28 minutes and hit a decisive three late to beat Atlanta. The Wolves finish the year against the Suns, who are playing to avoid the play-in tournament, giving Minnesota a more difficult matchup than their two competitors for the top seed. Dropping to third would line them up against Phoenix or New Orleans in the first round, while a 1-2 seed would force them to await the results of Suns/Lakers and Kings/Warriors, the current west play-in games. An ESPN report, assessing how Mark Lore and Alex Rodriguez failed to purchase the Wolves, indicated that they would've significantly cut the team's payroll. Adam Silver said the league won't get involved in the ongoing spat, as the original agreement included mediation terms for any dispute. 

New Orleans (49-32): Zion Williamson will make the playoffs for the first time if the Pelicans win at home against the Lakers on Sunday, the team they're still receiving compensation for from the Anthony Davis trade. Ahead of the draft where they have rights to LA's pick, a report indicates that New Orleans will opt to postpone that pick to the 2025 draft given that the Lakers could fall to 19th overall in this one. If the Lakers win on Sunday, Phoenix could pass the Pelicans and force New Orleans to play the Lakers again on Tuesday in the play-in tournament, something a banged-up team will want to avoid. Brandon Ingram (knee), out since Mar. 21, expects to return Sunday. 

New York (49-32): Scorching into the playoffs winners of four straight and 6-of-10, beating up Milwaukee and Chicago before running up the score to a 30-point advantage over Boston's starters in their final dress rehearsal on Wednesday and forcing them to take an early seat. The Knicks had lost the previous four games this season to the Celtics, this time riding Isaiah Hartenstein and OG Anunoby's physicality along with Jalen Brunson's 39 points to a dominant win. Anunoby, who scored 12 points with a steal and block in his first New York game against Boston, improved to 19-3 when he plays with the Knicks. A wake up call for how dangerous New York could prove even with Julius Randle out for the season. The Knicks clinch No. 3 with a win or Cavaliers loss, while a win and Bucks loss would allow them to move up to No. 2. As it stands, New York would host Indiana to open the first round, and wouldn't align with the Celtics until the east finals. The Pacers won 2-of-3 meetings with the Knicks this season. 

Oklahoma City (56-25): They clinch the No. 1 seed in the west if they win and a three-way tie remains. An astounding achievement for a team that lost in the play-in last year and boasts a roster as young as any in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will make a strong push as Nikola Jokić's closest MVP competitor, and they could meet this postseason if Oklahoma City manages to draw one of the weaker play-in teams like the Lakers, Kings or Warriors as the one seed. That beats battling with the Phoenix or New Orleans of the world, or the bloodbath that Clippers-Mavericks could turn into. The Thunder close against a Dallas team that will rest on Sunday. Oklahoma City beats a tie with Denver for the top seed head-to-head, though Minnesota would win a straight-up tiebreaker. The Thunder win the three-way tie as the only division winner of the three.

Orlando (46-35): Like the Thunder, their status as a division leader vaults them to fifth the east in a three-way tie with Philadelphia and Indiana despite three straight losses and dropping 6-of-10. The Magic had aspirations of rising as high as second in the east with key tiebreakers in hand and squandered that by falling to Charlotte, Milwaukee, Houston and Philadelphia on Friday in crucial April games for a young team. They're arguably the most unproven playoff team and could have to play their way into the field if they lose to Milwaukee again on Sunday. The Magic clinch No. 5 with a win, own the Pacers tiebreaker, but drop ties to Philadelphia and Miami. The Heat becoming the division winner in a larger tie if they win on Sunday further complicates things, and could drop Orlando as low as eighth. Look out for them as a Celtics first-round possibility.

Philadelphia (46-35): Joel Embiid tweaked his left knee for the second time since returning from meniscus surgery, asking out of Friday's win over the Magic immediately before halftime in a scary moment. He returned for the second half and scored 32 points in 32 minutes to position the Sixers to avoid the play-in tournament. They're still the No. 7 seed as it stands, but Philadelphia closes at home against the Nets, arguably the easiest game of the four teams fighting for the fifth and sixth seeds. The 76ers own tiebreakers against the Magic, while a loss could send them on the road to Miami for the play-in game. A Magic loss and Sixers win sends them to six, while losses by Indiana and Orlando would allow them to move all the way up to fifth. It's less likely than one week ago that the Celtics see the 76ers in round one, who have now won seven straight.

Phoenix (48-33): Playing-in against the Lakers on Tuesday if the postseason began today, and they'll need to beat the Timberwolves, who have plenty to play for, to avoid that fate. It's not the ceiling that Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal expected when they teamed up, with roster restrictions continuing to limit their ability to build depth into the future, but those three stars still make them a tough out against anyone. They can move up to sixth above the Pelicans with a win if New Orleans loses on Sunday. 

Portland (21-60): Robert Williams III spoke for the first time since undergoing season-ending surgery after only playing six games for his new team. Sean Highkin considered him cautiously optimistic about his comeback from his latest knee ailment. Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and Dalano Banton received brief tributes similar to Grant Williams' in their returns to Boston last Sunday, Williams III declining a longer video presentation, according to Adam Himmelsbach. Banton scored 28 points in a loss, continuing his hot streak with Portland and talking about the difficulties of not playing with the Celtics after. 

San Antonio (21-60): Beat the Nuggets after making it tough on them earlier this month, entering the final game of Victor Wembanyama's rookie season as winners in 6-of-10. Wembanyama scored 34 points with 12 rebounds and five assists opposite of Nikola Jokić in a game Denver needed badly and botched before the buzzer. The Spurs close their season on Sunday against Detroit, with Wembanyama averaging 21.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.2 SPG and 3.6 BPG on 46.5% shooting in one of the all-time great rookie seasons. He'll beat out strong Chet Holmgren and Brandon Miller campaigns in their own right to win rookie of the year running away. And he's only 20.