Reports first surfaced on July 5 that the Celtics were sending Williams to the Dallas Mavericks as part of

a sign-and-trade, but the deal still wasn’t official as of Wednesday morning, leaving some to wonder if

Boston was looking to expand the deal to acquire an NBA player in addition to draft capital.

 

 

 

 

 

The Celtics put an end to that speculation Wednesday afternoon, however, announcing the Williams

sign-and-trade as complete while confirming the final details.

Here is Boston’s return as part of the three-team deal with Dallas and the San Antonio Spurs:

• The more favorable of the Chicago Bulls’ or New Orleans Pelicans’ second-round pick in 2024
• Dallas’ own 2030 second-round pick
• The right to swap a previously-acquired 2025 second-round pick with Dallas’ own 2025 second-round pick

That may not feel like a significant return, but it’s better than nothing, as Williams could have left the

team in restricted free agency had Boston not completed this sign-and-trade. Celtics president of

basketball operations Brad Stevens now has up to 13 picks in the next five drafts, which could give him

the ammunition to swing a blockbuster deal if the right player becomes available.

Williams had his moments in Boston — highlighted by his 27-point outburst in Game 7 of the 2022

Eastern Conference semifinals — but the team’s acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis made it unlikely the

Celtics would re-sign him, especially at the four-year, $54 million number the Mavs gave him on his new

deal.

Still, the Celtics will miss Williams’ 3-point shooting and defensive toughness this season, and it’s

possible the team will look to fill Williams’ void before training camp begins in the fall.

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Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla, Sam Cassell’s trip to Las Vegas will leave NBA coaches trembling in fear

The Boston Celtics finished last season in disappointing fashion, bowing out to a team that many

thought was simply tougher and more mature, the Miami Heat. Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, assistant Sam

Cassell and the rest of the Celtics’ staff is busy thinking up new ways to help lead their team back to the

promised land.

Despite the team’s recent success, it’s been an offseason in flux for the Celtics. The loss of Grant Williams

has Jayson Tatum firing shots at his former teammate. General manager Brad Stevens must fill the

roster in creative ways to help Boston become the Eastern Conference favorite again.

The Celtics know they have to get tougher, and that’s exactly what Cassell and Mazzulla were doing on

Friday as they paid a visit to well known UFC coach Eric Nicksick.

Nicksick was the 2020 and 2022 MMA Coach of the Year. He has coached notable fighters including

former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou, Paul Felder, and current UFC Bantamweight

Champion Aljamain Sterling.

As mentioned above, the Celtics’ coaches sought information on how Nicksick and his team corner fights

in the highly competitive professional mixed martial arts league.

Mazzulla, a former West Virginia Mountaineer, garnered support from the fans for the training session.

“Mazzulla part of the Mountaineer family!!” one fan named Greg Jones said. “That is awesome! I love

seeing all the crossover among sports and athletics, that’s what it’s all about!” another fan said.

Aside from new coaching strategies and toughening up in the Octagon, a lot depends on the Celtics’

young stars heading into next season. A new extension for Jaylen Brown has been discussed.

The Celtics have done their best to improve the roster, but missed out on adding a key piece that could

have made a huge difference.