Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams had a lot to say about guard Marcus Smart and power forward Kristaps Porzingis when he spoke with NBA reporters on June 27 at a Fanatics fan event at Gillette Stadium.
The Celtics traded Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and acquired Porzingis from the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster three-team trade. Williams, who becomes a restricted free agent on June 30, said he could play with Porzingis if he’s back in Boston.
“Kristaps is amazing,” Williams told Bobby Manning of CLNS Media. “He’s a talented player, he’s huge, he blocks a lot of shots, he’s active, he’s a guy who can play outside and in as well. He spaces the floor, which you know Joe (Mazzulla) loves to do. He provides that size, as well, to be able to play bigger, to play bigger lineups and be able switch more and have protection, similar to that of Rob where both of them can protect the rim as well as defend in transition. He’s a very special talent and however I can play around the guys, whether it’s J.T., J.B., Kristaps, Derrick (White), I’ll adapt to that.”
Porzingis averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Wizards this past season. The 27-year-old, who has played for the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Wizards, shot 49.8% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 85.1% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Grant Williams, Marcus Smart, Kristaps Porzingis & Boston Celtics Updates
Williams was sad to see Smart get traded by the Celtics. However, he believes the former Defensive Player of the Year will flourish with the Grizzlies.
“(Losing Smart) definitely hurts a little bit,” Williams said. “Just because you’ve been with someone for so long. He’s a phenomenal person, phenomenal teammate and he has the most heart and passion of anyone across this entire organization. you have to understand that part of this is a business.”
“You have to be excited about where the team is going and the direction they’re trying to take, and you have to not really hold too much against it because we know Marcus is going to be great wherever. He’s in a great situation with a talented team, and they needed him,” Williams explained. “They needed a player like that, to defend and also be able to shoot and knock shots down. He’s very, very able to do that, and this team’s going to have to step up in his absence.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Grant Williams, Marcus Smart, Kristaps Porzingis & Boston Celtics Updates
The Celtics drafted Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft out of Oklahoma State. The 29-year-old averaged 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 581 games with Boston while shooting 38.6% from the field, 32.3% from beyond the arc and 77.7% from the free-throw line.
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