Former Tennessee star Grant Williams is headed to the Lone Star State.
After playing four years with the Boston Celtics, Williams is heading to the Dallas Mavericks via a three-team sign and trade, first announced by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics were the three teams in the trade.
The Mavericks received Grant Williams and two second-round draft picks. The Celtics received two second-round draft picks, and the Spurs received shooting guard Reggie Bullock and an unprotected Dallas pick swap in 2030. Williams is set to start a four-year, $53 million contract in Dallas.
The move from Dallas comes as a brilliant finesse by the Mavericks’ front office. The Mavericks have plenty of offensive firepower with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving but have notably been looking to upgrade on the defensive front this offseason. While that department was somewhat addressed during the draft, rumors still circulated around the Mavericks acquiring Williams to bolster the defense.
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Grant Williams will give a great defensive presence in the starting rotation and can play off of Doncic and Irving on the offensive end.
Over the span of four years in Boston, Williams averaged 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. The former Volunteer also found his career high averages in points (8.1), rebounds (4.6), and assists (1.7) during the 2022-2023 season.
Prior to the NBA, Williams logged a long and impactful career under head coach Rick Barnes at Tennessee. Williams was the back-to-back SEC Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019, a consensus First Team All-American in 2019, a two-time All-SEC First Team selection in 2018 and 2019, and was named to the coaches SEC All-Freshman Team in 2017.
