Three questions the Boston Celtics still need to answer

The Boston Celtics finished the 2022-23 season disappointingly.

The Celtics’ roster has talked about returning to the NBA Finals and avenging their 2022 loss to the Golden State Warriors all season. Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before being eliminated by a familiar adversary, the Miami Heat.

The Celtics must now make some critical decisions. Brad Stevens already hit a home run when he acquired Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team trade. The Celtics also addressed their backup wing issue by signing free agent Oshae Brissett. However, there is still work to be done. Here are three unanswered questions for the Celtics.

Will Jaylen Brown get a Supermax contract extension?

Jaylen Brown was chosen to the All-NBA Second Team in 2023. Brown’s selection was the final domino to fall for the Georgia native to be considered for a supermax deal.

Boston’s decision on Brown’s contract will have an effect on his future with the team. As a result, Celtics supporters are eagerly anticipating an update.

What are they going to do with Grant Williams?

The Celtics were unable to reach an agreement with Grant Williams on a contract extension last summer. As a result, Williams is currently experiencing limited free agency for the first time. According to recent reports, the Charlotte Hornets and Dallas Mavericks are two teams interested in Williams. Because Williams is in restricted free agency, the Celtics will have the option to match any offer sheet he signs with another team. The question is, how far are the Celtics ready to go before cutting their losses and letting Williams go? We won’t know the answer until Boston makes a decision.

Will the C’s take advantage of their taxpayer mid-level exception?

The Celtics may lack salary room, but they do have the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, which is worth $5 million. However, using their MLE comes with conditions, since Boston would be hard-capped for the future season. Given Brad Stevens’ preference for flexibility, it’s difficult to see the Celtics making advantage of their exception. However, if a seasoned player enters the market and Boston believes he can make a genuine difference, their view on cap flexibility may alter.