Atlanta, GA – April 27: Boston Celtics PF Grant Williams holds up three fingers after hitting a … [+]
The Dallas Mavericks are acquiring forward Grant Williams in a four-year, $54 million sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics. The agreement is part of a multi-team trade that includes the San Antonio Spurs, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
As part of the deal, Dallas is sending forward Reggie Bullock and an unprotected 2030 draft pick swap to San Antonio. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Boston and Dallas will receive two second-round draft picks.
Acquiring Williams in a sign-and-trade deal is financially lucrative for the Mavericks. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, it allows them to preserve their Mid-Level Exception and use it to pursue free agents. Matisse Thybulle remains Dallas’ top free agent target.
Rumors since before the start of free agency indicated that the Mavericks were interested in signing Williams, who entered this offseason as a restricted free agent. Adding Williams gives the Mavericks some needed size on the perimeter and rebounding inside.
Last season, Williams appeared in 79 games with the Celtics, primarily in a reserve role. He averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 25.9 minutes — all career highs. However, he had a down shooting year, connecting on 45.4% of his overall shots and 39.5% from deep.
Williams played an integral part in deep playoff runs for the Celtics the last two seasons, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2022. He averaged 8.6 points and 3.8 rebounds during the Finals run while shooting 43.3% overall. In Boston’s most recent playoff run to the Western Conference Finals, he averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Williams shot 47.2% overall in last season’s playoffs.
Bullock joined the Mavericks in 2021 and quickly became a staple in the rotation. Dallas leaned on his ability to guard multiple positions and stretch the floor offensively. Although he was a streaky shooter, averaging 37% on three-pointers during his two seasons in Dallas, he would get hot late in the season.
He averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in Dallas and appeared in 146 regular season and 18 playoff games.
