Grant Williams almost signed with the Chicago Bulls in restricted NBA free agency before getting traded by the Boston Celtics to the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade deal.
Williams talked about his restricted free agency on JJ Redick’s podcast.
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.
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.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Grant Williams, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks & Boston Celtics Updates
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.
The Mavericks needed more win-now players around Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic and Williams fits that bill. The Celtics went 181-107 with Williams in the lineup.
“The talent on this team is absurd,” Williams told Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “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.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Grant Williams, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks & Boston Celtics Updates
An anonymous member of the Mavericks told Keith Smith of Spotrac that Williams will be their new Dorian Finney-Smith. Dallas traded Finney-Smith to the Brooklyn Nets last season in the blockbuster Irving trade.
“Grant is going to help replace what we lost in Dorian Finney-Smith,” the anonymous member of the Mavericks said. “He can shoot and defend, and we need guys like that. We’re also excited about his ability as a passer too. That’s something our other bigs don’t really do, so it adds a new dimension to our offense.”
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