Restricted Boston Celtics free agent Grant Williams has been lying low since the season ended for the most part, but made an appearance at a Fanatics event where he spoke a bit on the Marcus Smart trade. The Charlotte native revealed (via the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn) that it was “something that definitely hurts a little bit.”
“Just because you’ve been with someone so long and he’s a phenomenal person,” added Williams. “He has as much heart and passion as anyone across this entire organization. We trust (team president) Brad (Stevens) and we have to not really hold too much against (the trade) because we know Marcus is going to be great wherever he goes.”
“He’s in a great situation and a talented team and they need him. (Boston) is going to have to step up in his absence.”
It remains to be seen whether the Tennessee alum himself will be part of that effort to elevate the Celtics in Smart’s absence, but Williams’ own comments shed some light on the fact that there is still hope he could return to the team.
Whatever other moves Boston might make below the second apron introduced by the league’s new collective bargaining agreement may have as much to do with that outcome as he wanting to be a Celtic — and we may have an answer to that issue as soon as the start of free agency on Friday.
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Marcus Smart will be missed in Boston both on and off the court
Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire