As part of a three-team sign-and-trade arrangement with the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks and restricted free agent Grant Williams is finalizing a contract that will pay $53 million for four years.
According to reports, San Antonio will receive forward Reggie Bullock and an unprotected first-round pick swap from Dallas in 2030. Meanwhile, the Celtics and the Mavericks will receive two second-round picks as part of the trade. Williams’ previous team, the Mavericks, will also receive two picks.
Bobby Marks reports that the Celtics will receive a trade exception worth $6.2 million.
The acquisition of Williams, a hefty 24-year-old reserve player who averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Celtics this past season while shooting 39.5% from 3-point range on 3.7 attempts per game, gives Dallas a young, versatile 3-and-D forward who should be a perfect complement to the Mavericks’ star-studded backcourt of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Williams averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Celtics in the previous season.
The fact that Dallas still has access to its full midlevel exception despite having acquired Williams through a sign-and-trade gives the team the opportunity to add another player in free agency. NBA Online Betting PH has been informed by sources that Dallas is interested in the restricted free agency forward position now held by Matisse Thybulle of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Williams, who was selected 22nd overall by the NBA in the 2019 draught after playing college basketball at the University of Tennessee, has been an essential cog in both of Boston’s runs to the NBA Finals and the Eastern Conference finals in the previous two seasons. Although there were moments during the season when head coach Joe Mazzulla moved him in and out of the rotation, he was given a significant amount of playing time off the bench during the playoffs. In addition, he did the same thing the year before that when playing for Ime Udoka, helping Boston reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.
After taking on significantly more salary this offseason by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards in a deal that saw franchise stalwart Marcus Smart end up with the Memphis Grizzlies, Boston opted to get two second-round picks rather than match a deal to retain Williams next season, when the Celtics should once again be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Williams, who stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and can make open 3-point shots, was one of the most intriguing restricted free agents available on the market, especially for competing clubs. According to research conducted by NBA Online Betting PH, he has a lifetime shooting percentage of 43% on corner 3-pointers, which is higher than his overall 3-point shooting percentage of 34%. Aside from that, he is a versatile defensive player.
The Mavericks have high hopes that he will be able to occupy a similar role for them as they look to rebound from last year’s disappointing 11th-place finish in the Western Conference, which resulted in the Mavs not qualifying for the play-in round.
Williams underwent surgery on his left (non-shooting) hand following the conclusion of the previous season, but the Celtics have indicated that they anticipate him being ready for training camp.
The Mavericks have been very active this summer, as they have re-signed Kyrie Irving to a three-year deal, made two draft-night trades to end up with a pair of first-round picks (Dereck Lively II and Olivier Maxence-Prosper), and signed guard Seth Curry.
The acquisition of Bullock, who has a lifetime 3-point shooting percentage of 38%, allows San Antonio to reach the salary cap, and the team also obtains an additional potentially valuable future draught asset as part of the first-round trade.
