The Boston Celtics’ frontcourt duo of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford is quite impressive, but with the departures of Robert Williams III, Grant Williams, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, and Blake Griffin, the Celtics’ frontcourt depth is a touch thin.
Because of the Celtics’ dearth of frontcourt options, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley offered the following trade, which would send the Celtics a replacement for Grant Williams from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kenrich Williams has been acquired by the Celtics.
Thunder receive: Luke Kornet, Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton, and a 2024 Celtics first-round pick (protected in the top 20).
“The Celtics have done enough tinkering for the time being, but they may soon discover that this frontcourt lacks depth.” Grant Williams’ absence might hang large over this club unless an Oshae Brissett breakthrough is in the works,” Buckey wrote in an October 19 report. “That’s what could draw Boston toward another Williams, as Kenrich possesses similar strengths as a multi-purpose defender and capable shot-maker.”
Buckley explained why such a move would be beneficial to the Celtics.
“He’s never shot the three-ball in high volume (career 2.5 attempts per game), but his splash rates—37.3 percent this season, 44.4 in 2020-21—suggest he could.”
“The Celtics may have some reservations about parting with a first-round pick for a 28-year-old role player, but if forward depth looks like the final missing piece of their championship puzzle, that should be a relatively easy concession to make.”
The Celtics are unlikely to address their frontcourt depth until it is evident that it is a concern. If they do, Williams is worth considering, but only if the Thunder are prepared to let him go.
Blake Griffin is being urged to re-sign with the Celtics.
If the Celtics want to bolster their frontcourt, Bleacher Report’s Adam Fromal explains why bringing back Blake Griffin is in everyone’s best interests.
“If Blake Griffin chooses to continue his NBA career rather than hanging up the sneakers, the 34-year-old would be hard-pressed to find a better landing spot than a return to the Boston Celtics,” Fromal wrote in a piece published on October 13. “The once-gravity-defying power forward may now be more useful as a locker room presence and veteran mentor than an on-court force of nature, but that’s even more important given the current state of the C’s.”
Griffin raved about his time with the Celtics during the 2023 NBA offseason, but he is still unsigned. That might change, but the ball is in Griffin’s court, according to Brad Stevens.
Oshae Brissett is singled out as an underappreciated addition.
Because of what they already have, the Celtics may not believe another frontcourt addition is required. John Hollinger believes that new wing Oshae Brissett was one of the offseason’s more underappreciated signings.
“Brissett…is by far the best chance for Boston to get something above replacement-level production from what is the eighth spot in its rotation at full strength and a more prominent role if any of the top seven are out of the lineup,” Hollinger wrote in an October 11 report.
“Despite being a bit undersized for the frontcourt, he mostly played the four in Indiana over the last four seasons, where he held up on the glass (12.0% career rebound rate) and showed good defensive awareness in a team concept.”
If Brissett proves to be an effective frontcourt player, he might very well be a Grant Williams replacement.
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