I agree with this, Grant is a better player than he is getting credit for here. I feel like some posters struggle to properly evaluate the talent and value of roleplayers. I'm remembering the "DANIEL THEIS IS AN ALBATROSS" stuff from last year and then he ends up being a piece of a package to acquire Malcolm Brogdon, lol. This conversation happens with every RFA, it seems, and it always comes down to this nebulous idea that there's just some player out there that you can somehow acquire to do most of (I guess we're settling on 80%?) of what the RFA does for less money. Grant swung the Bucks series last year, that 20% downgrade could save some luxury tax payments, but you're losing real, meaningful on-court production by doing that and maybe you end up losing that series without him. Who are they acquiring to fill this role who can defend guys like Giannis and Durant in the playoffs and shoot 40% from three? I'm not convinced it's Mike Muscala, lol. And I like Muscala, but he's been a 15 MPG player for his career for a reason.Were Celtics fans who saw how critical Grant was in defending Bam and Giannis last spring really thinking during these playoff series, “Ya know we’ve got a nice 8/9th man out there right now.”? I ask this in all seriousness.
This also ties in to my point in other thread about how fans undervalue switchable wings/bigs (or how teams overvalue them).
They have let RFAs go in the past, but at least to my recollection that was when they had a meaningful chance to sign a max free agent. Yes, there is new management, but Brad has shown a willingness to acquire market price, high-end roleplayers (Brodgon and White), so I don't see why he wouldn't extend Grant. I expect he puts Grant in that category, regardless of his DARKO. I'm sure Brad, like most GMs, doesn't give a shit about that at all in terms of evaluating his impact on the court. If the tax implications become too great in a future season, like if they have to supermax Jaylen, Brad can just trade Grant at that point. Al is taking a $17,000,000 pay cut next season, which is probably in the range of what Grant will end up getting, so Grant's raise is getting absorbed into that. Dump Pritchard (doing him a solid, honestly) and Gallinari into space for nothing if tax savings are a concern and replace those guys within minimum contract ring chasers.
Grant is close friends with Tatum, so there may be added benefit to keeping him around if it makes Tatum happy. If the Celtics win a championship this year, which is a real possibility, I can't see them doing a sign and trade with Grant or letting him walk. That feels like a good way to alienate your roster. Now, if they get bounced in the Conference Semifinals or something this year and want to retool the entire roster, it's a different story.