NBA Insider Predicts Jason Kidd 'Unleashing' Grant Williams' Playmaking
After acquiring Grant Williams via sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics this offseason, the Dallas Mavericks helped bolster their defensive and physicality, which gravely lacked last season. But, with that defensive prowess Williams possesses also comes an offensive versatility that will assist the Mavs for the foreseeable future.
On Tuesday's episode of The Mismatch, The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discussed players that they may be bigger fans of, or hold more stock in, than the majority of the public. O'Connor mentioned Williams and the potential of a larger role in Dallas.
"I think Grant Williams with the Dallas Mavericks, this is going to be a situation where you're going to see him in a role that you didn't see him in Boston," O'Connor said. "Where he was more of that just spot up behind the corner, attack close outs guy. With Dallas, I would think Jason Kidd's going to use him as a screener for Luka and you're going to see Grant Williams in a position where he's going to unleash his playmaking, which is the skill he had at Tennessee."
O'Connor mentioned that he had Williams ranked No. 8 on his big board prior to the 2019 NBA draft and is still high on the Tennessee product, especially due to his opportunity with the Mavs playing alongside the likes of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Joining Dallas as the presumed starting power forward, Williams' role should indeed grow from his time in Boston as O'Connor alluded to. Think of Warriors' Draymond Green as the ideal scenario for Williams and the Mavericks, as Williams could utilize his playmaking skills as a screener or in a dribble handoff for both Doncic and Irving, while knocking down open looks from outside and defending multiple positions on the other end.
Adding a player like Williams was atop Mavs GM Nico Harrison's to-do list this offseason, and he succeeded. Now, it's time to put Dallas' new roster to the test.
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