Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams recently got accused on X of desperately wanting to return to the Boston Celtics, where he played his first four seasons as a professional hoopster. However, he put that notion to rest with a simple response, stating that he is "a proud Hornet."
The brief social media exchange began with Williams defending his former Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from criticism.
Those following the playoffs have been witnesses to Boston's potential unraveling, as the defending champion, despite previously holding home-court advantage, is currently in a 2-0 hole against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Hornets fans might want to tune in because Boston's embarrassing, early playoff elimination could give them a chance at acquiring a Celtics veteran who seemingly fits well with their core pieces.
As for Williams, he doesn't appear to believe his former squad's season is over, arguing that "superstars" Tatum and Brown just had two bad games and are due to take over the series. His post on X had a Boston-based user poking fun at him for supposedly wanting to be "back here so bad." However, the 26-year-old's retort should provide Buzz City fans, especially those who are waiting for his return from injury, with some comfort amidst the franchise's prolonged struggles.
Hornets should look at retaining Williams
While Williams expressed his desire to remain in Queen City, where he spent his childhood and played high school hoops, the ball is in the organization's court. The former first-round pick is under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, with his annual average salary in the next two years being a bargain at $13.95 million. So, the only reason he finds a new home is if the front office decides to ship him to another team.
Jeff Peterson might have to consider holding onto Williams, though. The forward's value has shown to be somewhat irreplaceable given the current NBA landscape, where physicality is commonplace, particularly in the playoffs.
The 2024-25 campaign can also be deemed as proof of how Williams is valuable to Charlotte. Its regular season started going on a downward spiral when it lost its glue guy to a season-ending injury, consisting of multiple tears, in his right knee. His numbers (10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest) may not have stood out, but his merit wasn't based solely on his stats.
His positional versatility, ability to space the floor on offense, and solid two-way prowess helped unlock various Hornets lineup combinations. Also, the toughness and leadership Williams brought every night were sorely missed.
Only time will tell how long Williams stays in Charlotte. But if he had his way, he likely wouldn't want to end the partnership, and the team should probably feel the same way.