Celtics center Williams inks 4-year extension

After enjoying a modest breakout during the 2020-21 season, Boston Celtics center Robert Williams has agreed to a four-year extension worth $54 million, his agent told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The new deal will commence after the 2021-22 campaign and run through 2026. The signing is the Celtics' second major extension of the offseason after handing out a four-year deal to combo guard Marcus Smart, the organization's longest-tenured active player.

Williams put up eight points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in just under 19 minutes per game as Boston's primary backup at the 5. Now, the 23-year-old's primary obstacles to becoming a full-time starter are gone - the team moved Daniel Theis at last season's trade deadline and dealt Tristan Thompson to the Sacramento Kings in a deal that netted the Celtics a defensive-minded guard in Kris Dunn.

The 27th overall pick out of Texas A&M in 2018, Williams has averaged 5.7 points, five rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in just under 15 minutes per game for his career. He has only started 16 of his 113 regular-season appearances to date.