5 free agents the Pacers should poach from Eastern Conference rivals

Grant Williams

Grant Williams has established himself as a valuable 3-and-D glue guy during his time with the Celtics, but he lacked consistent playing time this season. With no clearly defined role in Boston’s nightly rotations, Williams is certainly a question mark to return to Beantown next season.

At 24 years old, Williams fits Indiana’s timeline perfectly. As one of the best post defenders in the NBA, he would complement a young core in need of defensive production outside of Turner.

Williams also spaces the floor at an elite level. He shot 45% from downtown this postseason and has shot 43.3% from three for his playoff career. The Tennessee alum is especially lethal from the corner. Over the last two seasons, he has nailed 44.7% of his corner threes on 255 total attempts.

Due to his bench role in Boston, Williams’ expected contract would still allow Indiana to spend significant money elsewhere during free agency. After all, maintaining financial flexibility could factor into how heavily the Pacers pursue a player like Williams.

Williams has consistently held his own when defending elite big men like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, even serving as a small ball center for the Celtics on occasion. For this reason and many more, his contract value may turn out to be a bargain for the team that ends up signing him this summer.