The Boston Celtics traded Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade deal and Williams spoke to NBA writer Jared Weiss of The Athletic about the trade.
Williams signed a four-year, $54 million contract as part of the sign-and-trade deal. He is expected to net approximately $4-5 million more by signing with the Mavericks than if he signed the same deal with the Celtics due to state income taxes.
“I was thankful just because I feel like the way my agent and everybody talked about it was that this was our floor,” Williams said. “In Boston, it’s really like $48 million with the millionaire’s tax, so $54 million in Dallas is really like $58 million in Boston and $63 million in L.A.
“It was a little strategic on that end, but it’s also one of those things where the year was going great and then some things curved that. So to come out with this makes me feel very comfortable.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Grant Williams, Boston Celtics & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Williams averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists for the Celtics last season while shooting 45.4% from the field, 39.5% from beyond the arc and 77.0% from the free-throw line in 79 games.
The Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. Williams averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the 2023 playoffs versus the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Grant Williams, Boston Celtics & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Mavericks needed more win-now players around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and Williams fits that bill. The Celtics went 181-107 with Williams in the lineup.
“The talent on this team is absurd,” Williams said. “Kyrie and Luka, being able to put two superstars of that nature, two top 10 players or whatever you want to say, Kyrie is one of the best point guards in the league still. As well as those young guys they have to grow and compete like (Olivier-Maxence Prosper), they drafted Dereck Lively. The Seth Currys, the vets in the world, they’re really talented.”
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
