Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams had surgery on his left hand, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Williams hurt his hand in March and played through the injury.
“Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams — who’ll be a restricted free agent this summer — had surgery on his left hand Friday that is expected to have him fully recovered for the start of NBA training camp in the fall, sources told ESPN,” Woj wrote. “The surgery, considered successful, comes after Williams hurt the hand in March. Williams decided to continue playing with the injury through the Celtics’ run to the Eastern Conference finals.”
Williams averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists for the Celtics this season while shooting 45.4% from the field, 39.5% from beyond the arc and 77.0% from the free-throw line in 79 games. The 24-year-old helped Boston win 57 games in the regular season.
As a restricted free agent, Williams can either re-sign with the Celtics or sign an offer sheet with another team. Boston can match any offer sheet Williams signs as long as it comes within 48 hours.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Grant Williams & Boston Celtics Updates
The Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. Williams averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the 2023 playoffs versus the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat.
Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports says the Orlando Magic could pursue Grant this summer in restricted free agency.
“Another potential target that continually crops up around the Magic is Celtics forward Grant Williams, a restricted free agent who would add experience, toughness and 3-and-D versatility,” Deveney wrote. “But the Celtics can match any offer, so unless Orlando is willing to put forth an unusually large sum for Williams, Boston probably will keep him.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Grant Williams & Boston Celtics Updates
“He is 24, he has proven his chops, on both ends,” a West exec told Deveney. “You can’t coach that kind of experience. He’s got it. He is a perfect fit there. You want to become a playoff team, he is the kind of guy they’d want. But Orlando would have to overpay to get him and it is tough to expect a team to do that. Obviously, if you are Williams, you want to see the Magic being aggressive on the market.”
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