The Boston Celtics traded Jayson Tatum’s “closest friend” on the team, Grant Williams, to the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade deal. Over the past two years, the Celtics have gone out of their way to appease Tatum, but since Williams and Tatum were very close, some NBA observers wondered how the Mavs-Celtics trade would impact Tatum.
According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Tatum actually understood the decision to trade Williams to the Mavericks.
“Tatum keeps a pretty tight circle, and Williams was probably his closest friend on the team,” Himmelsbach wrote. “Over the past two years the Celtics have gone out of their way to appease their franchise cornerstone however they can, and the Williams move appears to run counter to that.
“But one league source said Wednesday that Tatum understood the decision and is primarily focused on the construction of a championship-level roster around him.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Boston Celtics & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Williams, who was a restricted free agent, is signing a four-year, $54 million contract as part of the sign-and-trade deal. The ex-Celtics forward and Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic are both represented by WME Sports.
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 & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Boston Celtics & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Mavericks needed more win-now players around Doncic and Irving and Williams clearly fits that bill with his 3-and-D skill-set. The Celtics went 181-107 with Williams in the lineup.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
