The Boston Celtics and Robert Williams agree to a four-year, $ 54 million extension

The Boston Celtics and center Robert Williams have agreed a four-year extension for $ 54 million, REP1 Sports agent Kevin Bradbury told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.

The deal will place Williams, 23, among the top half of NBA centers with annual salaries and is a bet to grow on the promise he has shown during the first three years of his career.

Williams has seen his role expand each season, including 13 starts in the 52 games he played last season, when he averaged 8.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1, 8 blocks in 18.9 minutes per game, all highs in the race.

A 72% field goal scorer, Williams has shown flashes of his ability to become an impact player at both ends of the court. It is effective as a finisher and rim protector, and has also demonstrated impressive stepping ability.

What has slowed him down are the annoying injuries that have limited him to 113 games during his first three seasons after being the 27th Texas A&M general team in 2018.

Earlier this week, the Celtics reached an agreement with goalie Marcus Smart over a four-year, $ 77 million overtime as Brad Stevens continues to put his stamp on the Boston roster after moving from coach to president of basketball operations after the season.

Boston also traded for guard Josh Richardson, traded Kemba Walker and a first-round pick for former Celtics center Al Horford and signed guard Dennis Schroder and center Enes Kanter for one-year contracts.

Stevens also struck a deal with the New York Knicks to turn Evan Fournier’s departure into a major commercial exception, giving Boston some flexibility to move forward. The Celtics have been prevented from having significant plug space next summer thanks to Smart and Williams extensions.

“Just try to create different pathways to give yourself options,” Stevens said earlier this week. “This is the conclusion.

“This is complicated from a numerical point of view, but I think we have some flexibility and some options, which is good. And we have good players, so we have a good base, and that’s exciting too.”