The Dallas Mavericks have tried their best to come back from a disastrous season with a strong offseason. They’ve made plenty of moves to add depth to their roster, with their marquee signing coming with Grant Williams.
Summer League head coach and senior team assistant coach Jared Dudley spoke to Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com and openly discussed why Williams is such a good fit for the Mavericks on and off the court.
“Grant Williams provides personality. He’s good for the locker room. He provides elite three-point shooting. He’s (able to) guard guys. He’s going to be a major part of our team and our success this year.”
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Williams averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds with the Celtics last season and had some unflattering moments, which made the team comfortable getting rid of him. The Mavericks have needed a player that does exactly what Williams does, and the 24-year-old has the opportunity to become the third-best star on the Mavs behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
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The Mavericks are one of the most under-pressure teams in the league due to the presence of a superstar like Doncic. He and Williams are the same age, so this pairing could grow together if Williams lives up to the hype. The expectations for him aren’t extremely high, but he needs to prove he is a complementary player that won’t shy away from taking the shots that Luka and Kyrie create for him.
Williams was clearly upset about how his time with the Celtics ended. He and Jayson Tatum seem to have a very strong friendship, given their post-trade interactions on social media. The 24-year-old was also frustrated with the process of restricted free agency but is a happy camper now that he has a long-term contract and a future with a team where he will have a bigger role.