This offseason, the Boston Celtics restructured their roster’s core, trading away mainstays Marcus Smart and Robert Williams to acquire Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.

As the NBA’s final unbeaten club to begin the season, the early returns have been good. While they suffered their first loss on Monday, a 114-109 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, they still have the league’s third-best record at 5-1.

Boston also has the highest net rating in the league at 14.1, the second-most points per 100 possessions at 119.9, and the fourth-best defensive rating at 105.8.

The Celtics still have a lot of work to do to strike the proper balance between spreading the floor for isolation attacks and utilizing more drive-and-kicks and better ball movement, as highlighted while analyzing what went wrong offensively against the Timberwolves, the top-rated defense in the NBA to start the season.

However, this freshly created group will get more at ease playing together. And, with the playoffs approaching, it’s exciting to see their offense produce more points in the clutch, which is defined as the final five minutes of games that are within five points.

Ex-teammates Smart and Williams are both playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, who are struggling without Ja Morant, who is serving a 25-game ban to begin the 2023-24 season. They have the league’s worst record (1-6).

Unfortunately, things are worse for the Time Lord. Williams, who had an arthroscopic treatment on his left knee prior to the start of last season, hurt his right knee in a 112-100 defeat to Smart and the Grizzlies.

According to The Athletic’s Jared Weiss and Shams Charania, he may need season-ending surgery to address bone and ligament damage caused by a right kneecap injury.

The two also state that the 26-year-old from Shreveport, Louisiana, may instead choose a two-to-three-month cleanup treatment.

Along with the long-term concerns and the knowledge that Williams will have to undergo another surgery and rehabilitation process, what makes this development even worse is how enjoyable it was to watch him expand his offensive game to begin the season, displaying a greater willingness to take jump shots on a rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers team.

Jaylen Brown informed reporters at Wednesday’s shootaround ahead of the Celtics’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers, as caught by CLNS Media, that he contacted Williams about two days before the news broke.

“Telling him I love him, seeing him soon, stuff like that,” the two-time All-Star said. “I didn’t know if he was aware at the time. However, the news broke two days later. “I wish you a speedy recovery.”

“It’s difficult,” Brown added. Rob is a strong man, so I’m confident he’ll be able to recuperate and move on. I had a friend (and I had a sibling) when he was here. We had comparable perspectives. We didn’t say much and didn’t talk to many people, but we understood each other. Rob was someone I had a lot of respect for, and he was a fantastic buddy when he was here.”