How Grant Williams Wants to 'Change' Dallas Mavs Alongside Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving

The Mavs acquired Grant Williams in a sign-and-trade during free agency, with the recruiting efforts of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic playing a role.

DALLAS — A significant part of the Dallas Mavericks' roster changes over the long offseason included a three-team sign-and-trade for former Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams. He finished the 2022-23 season with career-best averages of 8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 25.9 minutes per game, landing him a four-year, $53.3 million deal in free agency. 

"The best part about this organization is everyone's authentically themselves," Williams said on Friday at Mavs Media Day. "It's a very kind of calm and relaxed and chill organization while also being disciplined and understanding that the priority is winning, but also you can have a good time while doing it."

"Everyone feels very valued," Williams explained. "It makes sure not only the top guys get valued but the players from top to bottom. It's been really special to be a part of it."

Adding Williams into the mix was a clear upgrade for a Mavs team that needed a bigger frame at the four without sacrificing perimeter shooting and general, all-around impact doing the little things on both ends. He can guard multiple positions, makes timely defensive rotations, and is a communicator. Offensively, beyond his catch-and-shoot ability, he can attack a closeout to reload behind the 3-point line or finish at the rim. He sets good screens and makes quality passing reads, too.

"We're lucky to have Grant to have that voice. He's a winner. You can see that on the floor. He's gonna talk," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said of Williams. "His voice is important. It's something that we haven't had. Player to player and player to coach has always been successful in this league. Guys on our roster respect what he's done early in his career."

Williams already feels at home with the Mavs organization, describing it as a calm, family environment that embraces each player's individuality. It doesn't take long to notice his light-hearted, joking personality, which he takes pride in doing with his teammates. 

"I'm a little goofball at heart," Williams said. "I'm trying to bring my same personality and just be consistent every single day. I always say, it's a very, very long year, so to bring smiles and light energy allows not only just yourself to get through but everyone else around you. The benefit of this team is that we have a lot of characters who like to have a good time, but we also understand the priorities we have set forth.

"As much as my voice can be loud and obnoxious at times, I tell people you may hate me at the start, but eventually you're going to say either, 'That's just Grant,' and get over it, or you're just going to end up loving it because it's always going to be there."

With how talkative Williams can be, it comes with value on the court. Naturally, that helps with his role, given playing the four requires making low-man rotations, calling out various coverages, and communicating on the weak side. Williams' leadership was praised by Doncic recently, while his talkative nature was brought up, too. 

"I think Grant is a great leader," Doncic said of Williams. "He talks a lot — sometimes too much, but he's a great guy, and he's going to help us a lot."

By joining a Mavs team that finished 25th in defensive rating and 30th in total rebounding percentage last season, Williams wants to step in and immediately change the team's identity. He wants them to be known not only for having a brilliant offense led by Doncic and Irving but for being a tough, defensive-minded squad that hones in on the nuances of what makes a great unit. 

"My ultimate goal is to change the nature of the team and how we're viewed," Williams said.

"Being tough, being a team that competes at the highest level, and having ultimate energy at all times, a team that not only can perform on the offensive end — because that's never been an issue — but also locks in and keys in on the defensive end and has each other's back. And then being mindful of the actual game plan."

Irving had recently mentioned that he shared input on potential roster moves with the front office, and Williams was one of the players he wanted the team to acquire, recalling his impact during the Boston Celtics' series win over Irving's Brooklyn Nets in the 2022 NBA playoffs. Irving sees the intangibles that Williams provides as helping enhance the Mavs going forward. 

"Grant was one of those guys I mentioned [to the front office]," Irving said of Williams. "He was a big piece in those Boston series when we played at Brooklyn. He made it difficult for us. He wasn't the only one, obviously, but he was doing the intangibles out there. And I think he was looking for a bigger role somewhere else.

"I can't knock a guy for wanting to try and be more in this league. Coming here and getting the deal that he did, I was proud of him."

When Williams contributed to the Celtics' playoff series sweep against a Nets team that had Irving and Durant, the team made life tough on the opposing offense by being intentional while switching, making crisp rotations, and hustling to make extra efforts while being physical. That series left a lasting impression on Irving about Williams as a player.  

"The best part about the series is that we executed it," Williams explained. "The coaches put us in a great position, and we followed that plan to the tee. I think Kyrie and [Kevin Durant], all those guys know, it was one of the more challenging series just because we had a bunch of versatile guys, but competed and were physical." 

Williams views the Mavs' roster as having similar potential defensively as his recent Celtics teams have managed to achieve. He highlighted the versatility the team now has on the wing and at the center position. When evaluating his two superstar teammates, he feels they are each capable of making an impact, too. 

"We have the same opportunity here with guys across the team," Williams said. "We have Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Josh Green, myself, and Dereck Lively, who can switch. We have Maxi Kleber, who's done it consistently through the years. Dwight Powell, and then Luka when he commits, and then Kyrie has great hands and guards well himself.

“I'm super excited because we have a lot of different opportunities and packages to run on the defensive end."

During the free agency process, Williams leaned on Irving and Doncic for insight into what the Mavs need before deciding. Both players helped make Williams feel valued if he was to commit to joining the team, with Irving's influence, in particular, being highlighted as a factor in the final decision. 

"I reached out to [Kyrie and Luka] to understand what they needed from me and if I felt I would be valued," Williams said. "Kyrie did a phenomenal job of communicating with me to understand the role and the opportunity that was there."

Williams is penciled in as the only confirmed opening starter alongside Doncic and Irving, but he isn't concerned about starting or the number of minutes he plays. He is focused on providing a consistent impact daily in the areas the team needs, and by doing so, the rest will take care of itself. 

"This team is asking me to be a guy they can look to in consistency, and that's what I'm trying to put my mark," Williams said.

"I couldn't care less how everything else goes. I want to make sure that I do my job for this team, for Coach Kidd, and for the guys who believe in me and brought me here. I think of every single day as an opportunity to impact and make a successful team. That's the number one thing for me. Individually, things will come naturally."

The Mavs will soon have a major chance to bond off the court during a 12-day international preseason itinerary that features stops in Abu Dhabi and Madrid. Dallas makes its preseason debut on Oct. 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.