What Does The Recent Trade Mean For Grant Williams?

After the three-team deal that sent former Tennessee Volunteers forward Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks, we take a look at his role going forward.

VFL Grant Williams has a new home as of this week. The Celtics sent the forward to Dallas as a part of a three-team deal with the San Antonio Spurs. Williams has certainly shown that he has a role in the NBA, earning a four-year, $53 million deal in the sign-and-trade. 

Although there wasn’t a clear future with Boston, there was obviously interest elsewhere. Williams has a versatility, especially defensively, that few players in the NBA possess, highlighted by his ability to play and guard different positions, even up to center, at his 6-foot-6-inch height. It will be interesting to see how the Mavericks utilize their new Swiss Army Knife, but we will do our best to predict just that.

Williams has a great chance to slot straight into the Mavericks starting lineup. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be the starting backcourt, and it is fair to assume that Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dwight Powell will also be in the starting five. The power forward position is wide open, and it is fair to assume that Williams will take that spot. He does have competition in Maxi Kleber, but after the contract and trade, it is fair to think that he has the edge. Other frontcourt members include Richaun Holmes and rookie Dereck Lively II. Christian Wood and Davis Bertans are among the big men who have departed from the Mavericks.

Dallas Mavericks F Grant Williams

We must remember, though, that Williams is not limited to being in the frontcourt. In an era where we hear the term “positionless basketball,” Williams is a great player for these Mavericks to have. They will often use him every night to guard the opponent’s best forward or center, and he will find his game on the offensive end as it comes, serving as a more than capable floor spacer. It will be interesting to see what this new opportunity brings, but it seems that it will be a role more at the forefront of things than it was in Boston.

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