Robert Williams

Northwest Notes: Murray, Nuggets, Brogdon, Blazers, Wolves

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray is eligible for a contract extension, but it doesn’t sound as if he plans to sign a new deal before the regular season begins.

As Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes in a subscriber-only story, Murray told reporters on Monday that “we haven’t had that conversation yet.” General manager Calvin Booth said that the organization is in frequent contact with Murray’s agent Jeff Schwartz, and the impression he has gotten is that they’d “rather play it out.”

Murray is one of a handful of players who would become eligible for a far more lucrative super-max extension if he has an All-NBA season in 2023/24. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone believes the guard is capable of that sort of year.

“My challenge for Jamal is to show that you can do what you did in 20 playoff games,” Malone said, per Durando. “Because what Jamal did in the playoffs was ridiculous. … Now the challenge is, OK, you did it 20 games. You showed the world what you’re capable of. I want Jamal Murray to be an All-Star. I want Jamal Murray to be an All-NBA player. And to do that, what’s he have to do? He’s got to do it in October. He’s got to do it in November. He can’t do the slow start. The guys that are on top of their game, they bring it every single night.”

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

  • The Nuggets are optimistic about their chances of winning a second consecutive title in 2024, as stars Murray and Nikola Jokic said at media day on Monday. Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN has the story and the quotes.
  • Sources who spoke to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic believe the Trail Blazers are open to moving veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon but are happy to hang onto him into the season if no good opportunities arise. With that in mind, Vecenie explores what the market for Brogdon might look like.
  • Jason Quick of The Athletic shares some of his takeaways from the Trail Blazers‘ media day, including the fact that the club is bullish about its new frontcourt duo of Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams. “We — by far — have the most athletic two fives as a combo in the league,” head coach Chauncey Billups said. “And teams will understand that when they play against us, on both sides of the floor. … We are going to put a lot of pressure on the paint on the offensive end, and defensively, we will protect the rim. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
  • The Timberwolves had the NBA’s 10th-best defensive rating last season and ranked 23rd in offensive rating. This fall, they’re leaning into that defense-first identity rather than focusing more on offense, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “It has to be (defense first). It absolutely has to be,” head coach Chris Finch said. “I say that just because we have the personnel to do that and be that, on and off the ball and at the rim.”

Celtics Notes: Holiday, Tatum, Mykhailiuk, Porzingis

The last-minute trade for Jrue Holiday ahead of training camp upended some of the preparations that Celtics players had made for the coming season, notes Brian Windhorst of ESPN. As Windhorst writes, Derrick White had spent time with assistant coach Sam Cassell in Colorado this summer getting ready to become Boston’s new starting point guard, but Holiday figures to take on that role now.

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis had spent a couple weeks before training camp getting to know Robert Williams and assessing how the two big men might play together. Porzingis will no longer get the opportunity to play with Williams, who was sent to Portland as part of the package for Holiday.

“I already could see how Rob is that charismatic guy for this group,” Porzingis said on Monday. “So it definitely hurts for this organization that he’s not here anymore.”

Still, the Celtics’ players, coaches, and executives alike are excited to get the opportunity to add Holiday, who is one of the league’s mostly highly regarded teammates and defenders.

“There’s a list of guys in the league that you always think you’ve never had a real chance to get that you think are perfect fits,” president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said on Monday, per Windhorst. “And Jrue is one of those guys.”

Here’s more on the Celtics:

  • Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe has more reactions and quotes from media day following an offseason of change that also saw longtime Celtics like Marcus Smart and Grant Williams head elsewhere. “I played together with Smart for seven-plus years, with Rob for (five-plus), so it’s like you grew up with these guys,” Jaylen Brown said. “For them not to be around is a little bit weird, but everybody has a journey and I know those guys are going to do great.”
  • Speaking to reporters on Monday, Jayson Tatum explained his decision to forgo surgery on a left wrist issue during the offseason.“I just got a bunch of second, third and fourth opinions (and) surgery wasn’t a common one,” Tatum said, per Windhorst. “I wasn’t all the way certain about it, but did all the right things this summer, took all the right measures, I guess, to make sure I was healthy and prepared to come into the season with no distractions.”
  • Svi Mykhailiuk could have signed a more lucrative contract to return to Europe as a free agent this summer, but opted to accept a one-year, minimum-salary offer from the Celtics that only includes a $200K partial guarantee. “Just being a part of something special,” he said on Monday in explaining his decision to remain stateside (Twitter link via Jared Weiss of The Athletic). “… I still feel like I’m an NBA player and I belong in the NBA and to keep on my journey.”
  • Porzingis said on Monday that he’s feeling great and will have no limitations in training camp after dealing with plantar fasciitis this summer, tweets Weiss. “Medical staff did a great job of loading up slowly and now as I’m getting close to training camp, we start tomorrow and I’m totally fine, ready to go,” Porzingis said.
  • Fellow big man Al Horford said he has been impressed by what he has seen from Porzingis so far in workouts, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “When you really see a guy like that — he’s really 7-3, maybe even a little taller — just the way that he moves, his feel for the game, and some of the things he brings, I’m just really excited,” Horford said of his new teammate.

Latest On Celtics-Trail Blazers Trade

Malcolm Brogdon preferred a fresh start after the Celtics nearly dealt him to the Clippers this summer, The Athletic’s quartet of Shams Charania, Jared Weiss, Jared King and Jason Quick report. However, he did not want to be camp holdout, according to Weiss.

A three-way deal involving Kristaps Porzingis fell through due to concerns regarding Brogdon’s injured elbow. Porzingis, of course, was eventually acquired by Boston in a restructured deal with Marcus Smart serving as the primary outgoing piece.

Brogdown was dealt to the Trail Blazers on Sunday along with Robert Williams and two first-rounders for Jrue Holiday.

Boston didn’t want to part with Williams, but he needed to be included to convince Portland to make the trade, per The Athletic’s report.

We have more on the big deal:

  • Brogdon believed after meeting with the team’s brass earlier this year that he was part of the franchise’s long-term plans, according to Weiss. He was blindsided when he learned the team attempted to include him in a Porzingis blockbuster. Brogdon was also frustrated by rumors he would undergo elbow surgery. He planned to rehab the elbow, as the other areas of concern in his lower body felt relatively fine.
  • Brogdon was also upset when coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters that Derrick White would be the starting point guard during a press conference announcing Jaylen Brown’s contract extension in July, Weiss adds. Brogdon only communicated with top executive Brad Stevens during the offseason and the veteran guard eventually decided he was willing to rejoin the team but still preferred to be dealt.
  • The Trail Blazers were initially seeking a haul for Holiday that included four or five future first-round picks, but that demand eventually softened, according to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. Holiday can opt out of his contract after the season, but Himmelsbach hears that both sides view his arrival as the start of a long-term partnership.
  • The Warriors were never a part of trade discussions involving Holiday, Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets. They are comfortable with their guard rotation entering camp. Golden State’s 2024 first-rounder, which was included in the deal, has now been traded three times. Memphis originally traded for the pick, then dealt it to Boston. It’s now the property of the Trail Blazers.

Celtics Land Jrue Holiday In Trade Involving Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon

3:33pm: The Celtics have officially announced the acquisition of Holiday in a press statement.


11:02am: The Celtics will acquire Jrue Holiday from the Trail Blazers in exchange for Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon and draft assets, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The draft picks are Golden State’s first-rounder in 2024 and Boston’s unprotected first-rounder in 2029, sources tell Wojnarowski. The Warriors’ pick is top-four protected.

The Celtics were among Holiday’s preferred destinations after he was sent from Milwaukee to Portland in the Damian Lillard deal, Woj adds. He notes that Boston had to make a significant offer to beat out several teams that were pursuing the 33-year-old guard.

Holiday will make roughly $35MM this season and holds a $37.4MM player option for 2024/25. The Celtics are believed to want to work a long-term deal, and he will become eligible for an extension during the second half of the season, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN.

Marks also points out that the trade with Portland wouldn’t be permitted next year because Boston will be above the second apron. He notes that teams in that position have an incentive to maximize their assets before the strictest provisions in the new CBA take effect.

The addition of Holiday provides the Celtics with an emphatic answer to the Bucks’ acquisition of Lillard on Wednesday. Those two trades position Boston and Milwaukee as the clear favorites for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Holiday will help replace the tough defensive presence the Celtics lost when they traded Marcus Smart to Memphis. He can share ball-handling duties with Derrick White and won’t have to be a full-time point guard like he was with the Bucks.

Boston has a hole to fill with the loss of Williams, but the team holds a $6.2MM trade exception that it could use in its search for a replacement, points out Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype (Twitter link). If the Celtics can’t find a big man they like, they could use they exception on another player and try to use him in a trade for a center in two months.

After facing a limited market for Lillard throughout the summer, the Trail Blazers have radically reshaped their roster with a pair of deals. In addition to Brogdon and Williams, Portland also acquired Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara, along with three total first-rounders and a pair of pick swaps with Milwaukee.

Brogdon has two years left on his contract at $22.5MM each season, while Williams will make $11.6MM and $12.4MM over the next two years. Portland plans to hold onto Williams and pair him with Ayton in the frontcourt, Wojnarowski tweets. He adds that teams have expressed interest in Brogdon throughout the summer, and he seems to be a logical trade candidate with the Blazers committed to their young guards.

The Clippers, who nearly traded for Brogdon when the Celtics acquired Kristaps Porzingis, are an obvious choice to pursue him now, tweets Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. Greif also hears that the competition for Holiday came down to L.A. and Boston.

Celtics Notes: Griffin, Williams, Brogdon, Brown, Tatum

The Celtics have interest in re-signing Blake Griffin, but the 34-year-old big man is considering retirement, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Speaking at a youth basketball camp this week, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the organization was thrilled with Griffin’s contributions last season. Even though he only played in 41 games, Griffin made an impact as a veteran leader.

“I’m not blowing smoke, it was as good as it gets,” Stevens said. “He was unbelievable when he played and even better when he didn’t. He has a fan for life from everybody in our organization. You know, if he decides to keep playing, he wants to come back out East, he knows we’re a phone call away.”

Stevens also told the campers it wasn’t easy to convince Griffin to join the team last fall. The Celtics were looking for someone to fill in for center Robert Williams, who missed the early part of the season with an injury, and Stevens was candid about the potential lack of playing time once he returned. Griffin initially turned down the offer, but agreed when Stevens made a second phone call.

Stevens touched on a few more topics, according to Washburn:

  • The Celtics consider this a pivotal season for Williams, who has been bothered by injuries throughout his career. Even though Boston can turn to Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet when Williams is unavailable, Stevens believes they’re “a different team” with Williams on the court. “He’s not an old guy, but he’s not a rookie anymore,” Stevens said. “He’s six years in now and this is the time where guys make leaps and make jumps. He showed his defensive versatility a couple of years ago. His offensive threat at the rim and his rebounding is as good as it gets, and the keys for him are to be available as much as possible and to be able play as long as spurts as possible.”
  • Stevens confirmed that he and other Celtics officials talked to Malcolm Brogdon after he was nearly sent to the Clippers in the Porzingis trade, just like they had discussions with Jaylen Brown after he was rumored to be part of an offer for Kevin Durant last summer. “Some stuff has been talked about with the Brogdon stuff, you just have conversations about it,” Stevens said. “You understand why a person would feel angry about that. But at the same time, that’s why you have those conversations. You work together. Obviously, in almost all scenarios, you’re talking about unbelievable players on all sides. That’s the other part of the recognition being discussed.”
  • Stevens also acknowledged the need for Brown and Jayson Tatum to take over as team leaders after Marcus Smart was traded to Memphis. “I think Marcus is a good leader and we have a lot of other good leaders in that locker room, too,” Stevens said. “Everybody does it through their own personality and their own way. We talked about it several times three, four, five years ago, is one of the keys to our whole program will be when Jaylen and Jayson get to 25, 26 and 27, being two of the best leaders in the league, and they’re there. I think they will without question (lead) and they were already.”

Celtics Notes: Rivers, Brogdon, Tatum, Queta

Free agent guard Austin Rivers is interested in signing with the Celtics before the start of training camp, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Appearing on a podcast with Bill Simmons of The Ringer, Rivers revealed that he recently reached out to the team to see if there’s a spot open for him.

“I had a great talk with (president of basketball operations) Brad (Stevens) actually like a week ago,” Rivers said.

Boston may have a need for backcourt depth after sending Marcus Smart to Memphis in a three-team deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis. Payton Pritchard expects to see more playing time, and the Celtics added free agents Svi Mykhailiuk and Dalano Banton, but there’s no one who can fill Smart’s role as a veteran leader.

“That’s why I called (Brad),” Rivers said. “I told him I’d love to be a part of the team. He said a lot of positive things. We’ll see if that’s something that will come to fruition. I’ve always loved Brad. I’ve always been a fan of him.”

The 31-year-old combo guard spent last season with the Timberwolves, averaging 4.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 52 games.

There’s more from Boston:

  • Any “bad feelings” that Malcolm Brogdon has toward the team aren’t related to his near inclusion in the Kristaps Porzingis trade, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN said on “NBA Today” (video link). She suggests the dispute is related to the “golfer’s elbow” injury that Brogdon suffered in the Eastern Conference Finals. Brogdon elected not to have surgery during the summer, and Shelburne indicated there are questions about when he’ll be available for the upcoming season.
  • With Smart gone, Jayson Tatum will spend more time running the offense this season, Shelburne adds in the same segment. She points out that Tatum frequently filled that role in the playoffs, averaging 5.3 assists in 20 postseason games. In a look at Boston’s projected starting lineup, ESPN’s Zach Lowe said he expects Al Horford to be in the middle alongside Tatum and Porzingis, with Robert Williams coming off the bench.
  • Paul Pierce tells Conor Ryan of The Boston Globe that Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell got him involved in summer workouts with Tatum. Pierce attended numerous sessions with Tatum in Los Angeles, offering advice and joining him on the court. “He’s one of the top five players in the league, so it’s an honor to be there and see him go through his journey to see him get ready,” Pierce said. “I’m there really on some support, just to see his growth. He’s already at the top of the food chain, so I’m just part of being a support system.”
  • Neemias Queta‘s two-way deal with the Celtics covers only the 2023/24 season, Hoops Rumors has learned. Queta will be eligible for restricted free agency next summer if he plays out the contract.

Celtics Notes: Tatum, Smart, White, Brogdon, Porzingis

Appearing at a PGA pro-am event Wednesday in Memphis, Jayson Tatum promised Grizzlies fans that they’re going to love having Marcus Smart on their team (video link from The Memphis Commercial Appeal).

After spending nine years with the Celtics, Smart was shipped to Memphis in a three-team trade to acquire Kristaps Porzingis. Smart provided a fiery presence in Boston, both on and off the court, and Tatum said he’ll bring those same qualities to the Grizzlies.

“They’re getting a leader,” Tatum said. “They’re getting a guy who’s a winner, who’s been to the playoffs every year. We’ve been to the Finals together obviously, so he knows what it takes to get there. Obviously extremely talented, the best defender in the league. He’s just a guy that you love to have on your team.”

There’s more from Boston:

  • The Celtics addressed a major offseason priority when they signed Jaylen Brown to a super-max extension, but they have more extension decisions to make, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Around the start of October, Derrick White will be eligible for a three-year extension that could be worth up to $85.3MM. White is projected to take over as the starting point guard with Smart gone, and he’s coming off a second-team All-Defensive nod last season. If the Celtics want to extend White this year, they’ll have until opening night to finalize a deal with the veteran guard, who has two more years on his current contract. Malcolm Brogdon will also become extension-eligible, Himmelsbach notes, but he believes a new contract is less likely considering Brogdon’s age and injury history, along with the six-month trade trade restriction that comes with an extension.
  • Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck is a supporter of the new mid-season tournament and hopes his team can reach the finals in Las Vegas, Himmelsbach adds. “I’m a big international soccer fan, and I see they’ve got three trophies they can go for every year,” Grousbeck said. “So I’m already looking forward to it. I like having something new for guys to play for during the fall and give fans something to watch. Let’s see how it goes.”
  • Jared Weiss of The Athletic looks at the lineup options that Porzingis will provide for head coach Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics will have a much taller starting five and can experiment with a twin towers approach with Porzingis playing alongside Robert Williams. Weiss also envisions Porzingis and Tatum being effective with the second unit while Brown is resting.

Atlantic Notes: Rajakovic, Randle, R. Williams

In a fascinating profile, Eric Koreen of The Athletic details Darko Rajakovic‘s journey to becoming the Raptors‘ new head coach.

Rajakovic got his NBA start thanks to his relationship with Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti, first in the then-D-League and later with Oklahoma City. Presti met Rajakovic in Europe as a young executive with the Spurs, and was impressed by his attention to detail, passion and work ethic, Koreen writes.

He’s fought himself all the way to this point,” Presti said. “I think there is a level of toughness that comes with that, to work that path the way that he did, to get to the point where he’s the head coach of an NBA team. I don’t know how you can’t respect that and also be extremely happy for him.”

As Koreen notes, one of Rajakovic’s strengths is his adaptability, which should come in handy with Toronto’s roster in a somewhat precarious position entering 2023/24. It’s an excellent article and I highly recommend it for those who subscribe to The Athletic.

Here’s more from the Atlantic:

  • Left ankle problems plagued Julius Randle to end last season, but the Knicks‘ All-NBA forward believes undergoing arthroscopic surgery a couple months ago may have been a blessing in disguise, as Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News relays. “Me and my trainer were just talking about this, we were talking about prime years,” Randle said Wednesday as a guest on The Shop Uninterrupted. “And I feel like your prime is when your mental and physical kind of meet. And physically I feel like this is going to be my best year. But mentally I feel like I’ve taken a tremendous step because I’ve had to slow all the way down. I wasn’t allowed to train.” Randle also said he drew inspiration from teammate Jalen Brunson due to the point guard’s diligence and focus, per Bondy.
  • What’s next for Robert Williams following the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis? The Celtics big man needs to become more aggressive offensively, dribble more often, and add a short-range jump shot to keep opposing defenses honest, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Of course, the biggest question mark surrounding Williams might not be his on-court play but rather his health, given that he has appeared in just 209 regular season games over his five NBA seasons, including 35 in ’23/24.
  • In case you missed it, the Knicks, Raptors and Celtics all officially made roster moves on Tuesday.

Celtics Notes: Brogdon, Williams, Brown, Champagnie

The Celtics are turning away trade inquiries on Malcolm Brogdon, according to Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. A source from a rival organization told Bulpett that his club wasn’t able to make any progress when it called Boston about Brogdon.

“They said he’s a valued member of their team, and that’s where it ended,” the team official said. “I don’t know if that changes down the line, but we didn’t get anywhere. And I’m pretty sure we aren’t the only team that got that response.”

Brogdon captured Sixth Man of the Year honors in his first season with the Celtics, but they were willing to consider sending him to the Clippers in an early version of the Kristaps Porzingis trade. L.A. pulled out of the deal because of medical concerns over Brogdon, who suffered a right elbow and forearm injury in the conference finals, so the Boston traded Marcus Smart to Memphis instead. With Smart gone, Celtics officials are less willing to part with another important part of their backcourt.

“They didn’t want to move him in the first place,” another source said to Bulpett. “They really like Malcolm. But they had to balance out their roster. They didn’t want to go into another season having to rely so heavily on (Robert) Williams and (Al) Horford. They had a bit of a logjam in the backcourt, and they really needed some insurance up front.”

There’s more from Boston:

  • Williams is working to expand his offensive game this summer, and the Celtics want him to be more aggressive about seeking his own shots, according to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. After missing 47 games last season, Williams is following a program designed by the team’s director of rehabilitation to give him a better chance at staying on the court.
  • The Celtics are expected to resume contract talks next week with Jaylen Brown, who recently returned from an NBPA retreat in Spain, tweets Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens expressed optimism about working out an extension with Brown, who is eligible for a five-year super-max contract worth an estimated $295MM, but negotiations have been on hold while Brown, a union vice president, was out of the country.
  • Stevens faces an upcoming decision involving Justin Champagnie, who has a $50K guarantee on his contract if he remains on the roster through August 1, notes Brian Robb of MassLive. That guarantee increases to $350K on opening night, and Robb points out that either figure will cost the team much more due to luxury tax penalties.

Celtics Rumors: G. Williams, Brogdon, Brown, Banton, Lillard

When the Celtics struck a deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis last month, Grant Williams recognized that there might not be as significant a role for him in Boston’s frontcourt if he were to re-sign with the team as a restricted free agent. However, he liked the trade for the Celtics, as he told Jared Weiss of The Athletic.

“With the (Porzingis) news, I was excited about it ’cause even if they did end up matching me, I would probably be playing less but my whole thing is about winning,” he said.

Still, Williams recognized that the addition of Porzingis’ salary made it less likely that the Celtics would be willing to spend to keep him when he reached restricted free agency. According to Weiss, the forward had a more competitive market when free agency opened last week, but the Celtics were asking for a first-round pick in sign-and-trade talks, which caused some potential suitors to move on.

“I had an understanding of that most of the way. I know how the numbers work out and yeah, they could have afforded to keep me,” Williams said of the Celtics. “But it’s one of those things where you’re really committing and after the prior year, I didn’t think it was realistic. Hey, Boston was trying to maintain their leverage. It’s one of those where you can’t be mad at them for it because it just shows they want you to be there in a way.”

With Williams’ market drying up, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe heard from a source as late as Wednesday afternoon that a return to the Celtics was still a possibility, but the Mavericks increased their push for the forward and Brad Stevens was amenable to sending the 24-year-old somewhere he’d get to play more. That led to a three-team sign-and-trade agreement that will send Williams to Dallas.

Here’s more on what’s next for the Celtics:

  • A league source tells Himmelsbach that the Celtics remain intent on bringing back Malcolm Brogdon after discussing him in trade talks earlier in the offseason. Himmelsbach’s source adds that Jaylen Brown‘s super-max extension should be finalized “in the coming days.”
  • Dalano Banton, who agreed to sign a two-year contract with Boston, is expected to join the team’s Las Vegas Summer League roster, tweets Himmelsbach.
  • Echoing an earlier report from Chris Haynes that said the Celtics were among the teams to reach out to the Trail Blazers to inquire about the price for Damian Lillard, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne stated on NBA Today (YouTube link) that Boston has “expressed some interest” in the star guard. Shelburne and ESPN colleague Zach Lowe stressed that the Celtics are not on Lillard’s wish list, but point out that a package of Brogdon, Robert Williams, and several first-round picks and swaps could be compelling. The C’s have given San Antonio first-round swap rights in 2028, but their future first-rounders are otherwise unencumbered.
  • A Celtics star forward would be in favor of a deal for Lillard, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears said during a TV appearance over the weekend. “I’m hearing Jayson Tatum is knocking on that door now too to figure out a way to get (Lillard) to come to Boston,” Spears said, according to Brian Robb of MassLive.com.