Dallas is reportedly adding Grant Williams via trade, which would bring some defensive help, but how much better will they be?
The Dallas Mavericks are acquiring restricted free agent Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics in a three-team trade, according to multiple reports.
Williams will reportedly sign a four-year, $54 million deal before being assigned to the Mavs. Dallas would send swingman Reggie Bullock and the 2030 pick to the San Antonio Spurs. celtics, According to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, the Mavs would receive 2024 and 2028 second-round picks and a 2025 second-round pick swap. Kelly Caplan of The Dallas Morning News reports The Mavs would also receive two second-round picks from the Celtics in the deal.
Mavs Receive:
- Grant Williams
- Two future second-round picks (via the Celtics)
The Celtics receive:
- 2024 second round selection (via Mavs)
- 2025 second-round pick swap (via Mavs)
- 2028 second round selection (via Mavs)
Spurs get:
- Reggie Bullock (via Mavs)
- Unprotected 2030 first-round pick swap (via Mavs)
The Mavericks are pursuing the Celtics’ acquisition of restricted free agent Grant Williams on a four-year, $54 million deal via a sign-and-trade, according to sources. Bill Duffy and Eric Cabe of WME Sports completed the new contract for Williams. https://t.co/5T77dCuMkA
Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 5 July 2023
Grant Williams, Dallas Maverick. https://t.co/OgUMELVuqV
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) 5 July 2023
Sources told ESPN that Boston is interested in three second-round picks in the deal, including 2024, 2025 and 2028. https://t.co/3u3WGak6Yi
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 5 July 2023
The Mavericks made it clear they felt their roster needed work after missing the playoffs after the duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving faltered in the two months following the blockbuster deal that brought Irving to Brooklyn in February.
Irving and the Mavs have reportedly agreed to a three-year contract worth $126 million that should become official when free agent deals are signed starting Thursday. Center Dwight Powell is also set to return.
The 6-foot-6 Williams will transform the Dallas frontcourt as the lanky, offensive-minded Christian Wood is not expected to return. The 24-year-old averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in his fourth season with the Celtics.
Dallas is looking to rediscover the defensive mindset that helped them make a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2022. But it would have to be accompanied by a new set of key defensive pieces. Bullock’s departure came after Dorian Finney-Smith went to the Nets in the Irving deal.
Overall in the offseason, the Mavs made moves to shore up their depth — a sad state of affairs for the team in 2022-23. In addition to the deals for Powell and Irving, Dallas also reportedly agreed to deals with Dante Exum and Seth Curry and reportedly offered a three-year deal to restricted swingman Matisse Thybulle.
Bullock averaged 7.2 ppg for the Mavericks last season, down from 8.6 in his first season in Dallas. The 3-and-D specialist shot 40% from 3-point range in the 2022 playoffs, leading to 2.9 per game before falling to 1.9 at a 38% clip in the 2022-23 regular season.
For Boston, this trade bolsters a growing stockpile of future draft selections. The Celtics added four picks in the second round on draft night when they were traded below the 25th overall spot at various times. According to The Boston Globe, the Celtics also added a traded player exception worth approximately $7 million to the Williams deal.
This report used information from The Associated Press.