The Dallas Mavericks have a new player
When the news broke that the Dallas Mavericks traded for Grant Williams, I asked the Mavs Moneyball team a very simple question:
What’s your immediate reaction to the Grant Williams swap?
grace: I am very satisfied with the move. The signing of Grant Williams, who is good at defending and shooting the ball, is a great fit for Luka and Kyrie. Williams is the type of player every contender needs. He has playoff experience that will be useful to this team. He clearly respects Luka and seems ready to do anything to win. I really like the contract he signed. He offers the right value for someone who can do what he does on the floor. This step has given me more confidence in the direction of this team next season.
Jordan: Although this off-season has taken several turns that I wasn’t expecting, it’s hard to comprehend that the Mavericks actually got a player they had their eye on, even if it’s not a flashy name.
In fact, it’s perhaps even more impressive that it wasn’t just a flashy name at the top of the list. They have found someone in Williams who fulfills a lot of what they lacked last season. Aside from his versatility and ability to hit some three-pointers from corners, Williams is a smart player who should be able to do a lot of little things for this somewhat new-looking Mavericks team. And they did that at a fair price (and maybe even with a few second-round picks?).
Williams won’t step in and make this team an immediate competitor, but I appreciate that with some smart moves, this front office is finally going long term. I was a big Bullock guy so it’s hard to see him go but the Mavs just got younger in an emergency position.
mike: A younger 3-and-D wing!
ian: It’s a… worthwhile purchase? Grant Williams isn’t perfect, but he’s good at certain things (making three-pointers in corners, guarding multiple positions and being in the right place on defense) that the team could really use. A $53 million, 4-year contract for the 25-year-old makes him the rare Mav FA who doesn’t get exorbitantly rewarded, while also being young enough to be getting better (or not getting worse fast).
That Boston didn’t keep him gives me something to think about; I believe an end-of-season faint and some questionable decisions with the ball in key games ruined the relationship once fans loved, so expectations should be tempered, but this is the same guy who almost single-handedly won a Game 7 for Boston, so there’s evidence he can show up for the big moments.
I also think getting a man who is hardworking and intelligent will help in the dressing room, especially now that Reggie Bullock is dating. Hopefully Grant can take a leadership role in the team and be an addition over the long term.
Jack: This deal is a home run for the Mavericks. A perfect fit for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Williams fills the urgent need for a large wing-back. At just 24, Williams fits perfectly into Doncic’s timeline and has room to grow as a player. The deal he signed is a steal and the cost of his takeover (Reggie Bullock and a pick swap through 2030) is negligible. And Dallas also gets two second-round picks as part of the deal, which they can use to fire McGee or take another move. That’s an impressive performance from Nico Harrison.
brian: As of the 2022 NBA Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Mavericks have just four active players left from that roster. Grant Williams underwent hand surgery on June 9 for a torn ligament in his left hand and could potentially take a two-month hiatus from basketball activities. Just something to keep in mind if Williams does indeed get off to a slow start next season. Overall a good price and value for money purchase.
doyle: The last time the Mavericks grabbed a power forward from the Celtics, it was Antoine Walker. If Grant Williams can be Antoine Walker 2.0 with better shooting, he will be a welcome addition to the squad, especially if he brings back the shimmy. Please bring back the shimmy! However, if Williams looks anything remotely like last season’s playoffs, fans have every right to grab torches and pitchforks and march on the AAC.
David: The move is good. Williams is a better defender than Bullock and a better dribbler. I think the Mavs have had a good offseason using the strengths they had pre-draft, and maintaining their MLE while also moving up a forward spot is a win. I don’t like the pick swap, but since both Dallas and San Antonio should both be good in 2030, I don’t mind, especially if they get two second-round picks back. My only concern with Williams is his lack of offensive versatility, and if Portland doesn’t match Thybulle’s supply list, Dallas will again have playmaking deficits on the wings. But overall an objectively good deal.
Brent: The off-season feels like there’s one more medium-sized boot to ditch. So far, Maverick fans should be satisfied. The front office has shown both creativity and a clear intention to improve the team in areas of urgent need. However, it should be noted that they have also shown reluctance to trade the only first-round pick available to them (2027) or either of their two young guards (Green and Hardy) for a new one to win big starting player. We expect there’s only one more well-executed transaction coming close to a best-case scenario in the off-season, and given the team’s recent history of poor drafts and no-bargain agency signings, that’s refreshing yet to come Portland’s decision to keep Thybulle was upheld and all other motions.
Church: This was the move I was hoping for, maybe not Williams specifically, but a player who ties everything else together. Dallas now has a winger who can defend multiple positions. is he perfect Of course not, but Dallas made him a great offer and took two second-round players with them. If Dallas is doing anything with the MLE at all, we should be in good shape. It was a successful off-season.
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