NBA Free Agency Rumors: Mavs Interested in Signing Grant Williams, Harrison Barnes?

Ahead of NBA free agency, the Mavs are reportedly interested in acquiring Celtics' Grant Williams and Kings' Harrison Barnes.

DALLAS — After finishing the 2022-23 season with a 38-44 record, the Dallas Mavericks failed to qualify for the play-in tournament in the Western Conference. With the need to win-now with Luka Doncic and impending free agent Kyrie Irving, the team will need to be creative in adding talent to undergo a significant turnaround.

Aside from re-signing Irving, the Mavs' top priorities this offseason include improvement on defense and rebounding. Dallas ranked 26th in defensive rating and 30th in total rebounding percentage during the 2022-23 season.

"I think for us going into the offseason, the two biggest things that we need to work on is defense and rebounding," Mavs general manager Nico Harrison said of the team's needs during his exit interview. "That's going to be addressed."

If Irving re-signs for the level of compensation he's expected to receive in free agency, the Mavs will likely be limited in the mechanisms they have to create spending power to bring in free agent talent. Dallas could be limited to just a taxpayer mid-level exception this summer as a result. 

According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Mavs are the latest team to have interest in restricted free agent Grant Williams ahead of free agency. 

"The latest team to have interest in Williams looking ahead to free agency is the Dallas Mavericks, league sources told HoopsHype," Scotto wrote. "It’s worth noting Williams and Mavericks star Luka Doncic are both represented by WME Sports."

Scott also reported that Harrison Barnes is another forward the Mavs are interested in pursuing ahead of free agency. 

"Another forward the Mavericks are interested in heading toward free agency is Harrison Barnes, league sources told HoopsHype," Scotto wrote.

For a team that was considerably undersized in the frontcourt after including Dorian Finney-Smith in the midseason trade to acquire Irving from the Brooklyn Nets, adding size will be important. Williams isn't the tallest frontcourt option as he stands at 6-foot-6, but he has a strong frame at 236 pounds. Barnes, who stands at 6-foot-8, would bring a more natural profile at the four spot. 

Barnes played two full seasons with the Mavs, but was traded during a game in 2018-19 in exchange for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph. He had a productive stint after his initial four seasons with the Golden State Warriors. He could be headed to his fourth NBA stop if he departs from Sacramento this summer. 

Barnes, 31, appeared in all 82 regular season games with the Sacramento Kings last season. He averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 32.5 minutes per game, while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 37.4 percent on 3s. As the Kings seek to take the next step with De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, it remains to be seen what type of potential moves they could make. Barnes brings offensive firepower to any team, but is certainly not a defensive stopper. 

Coming off a four-year, $85 million contract, Barnes' value is well above the likely value he will command this summer. Again, if all goes accordingly with re-signing Irving, the Mavs would be in a position to need to get creative and engage in a sign-and-trade. 

The Celtics can match the offer sheet that Williams signs in restricted free agency, but the team has to be very careful with how they are spending. There is already a sense that one of their guards — with Malcolm Brogdon being the likeliest — could be on the move this summer. However, without a sign-and-trade, the Mavs likely aren't in a position to offer Williams a contract that would deter Boston from matching. There are rebuilding teams with cap space that have interest in Williams that are better equipped to pry him away from the Celtics.

In terms of linked trade interest, the Mavs are increasingly viewed as a team likely to trade out of or down in the 10th pick in Thursday's draft. Depending on the outcome that transpires, they could have some changes to their 2023-24 cap sheet before free agency arrives. It's possible for teams to get creative with moving contracts with partially guaranteed salary, or using the stretch-provision. Currently, the Mavs' landscape remains limited for talent acquisition barring a change of circumstance.

A few scenarios mentioned include a move with the Atlanta Hawks to send out Davis Bertans' contract with the 10th pick attached to land the 15th pick and a veteran. Dallas favors acquiring Clint Capela over John Collins in such a swap given it would resolve its need at the center position.

Another scenario that was reported involved the Mavs sending out Tim Hardaway Jr. and the 10th pick to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic and the 31st pick. Something to keep in mind, when reporting surfaces of this nature, it's not always going to include the full picture of what both sides may be sending out or receiving, but instead, it serves as a general framework. 

Until there is more clarity regarding what the Mavs use the 10th pick to accomplish, there are many variables to account for when evaluating the means in which they have to make external roster upgrades around Doncic and Irving. 

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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