Boston Celtics trade forward Grant Williams to Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks acquired forward Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics in a multi-team sign-and-trade deal that also included the San Antonio Spurs. The Mavericks acquired Williams, a versatile and defensive-minded forward, while the Celtics continue to assemble a potential championship roster in an extremely active offseason.
As the third team in the trade, the Spurs received forward Reggie Bullock and a protected 2030 first-round draft pick from the Mavericks. The Celtics received two second-round picks, sending Williams to the Mavericks.
Williams, 24, signed a new four-year, $54 million contract with the Mavericks as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Celtics. He recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left hand after the Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs.
The Celtics went 57-25 under rookie head coach Joe Mazzulla, who led the Celtics to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. The eighth-ranked Miami Heat eliminated the Celtics in the conference finals.
Entering next season, the Celtics are +215 odds-on favorites to win the Eastern Conference for the second time in the past three seasons.
The defending champion Denver Nuggets are widely considered the favorite to win the 2023-24 NBA championship at +475 odds and will do it again next season. The Celtics are the second favorite on DraftKings NBA Futures Rankings at +500.
Celtics, Williams part ways after four years
The 6-foot-11 Williams played at the University of Tennessee. The Celtics selected him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. In four years with the Celtics, Williams started 58 games, including 23 games last season.
Williams' playing time gradually increased each season, which was reflected in his scoring average. He averaged about 26 minutes per game this season, and his points, rebounds and assists all hit career highs.
As a member of the Celtics' second unit, Williams averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. In the 2022-23 season, his three-point shooting rate is 39.5%, and his career three-point shooting rate is 37.9%, including 43% from the corner.
Williams has had several big individual playoff moments over the past four seasons, including scoring a career-high 27 points and hitting seven 3-pointers against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 playoffs. ball.
The inconsistent Williams lacked consistency in the playoffs, which was a key reason why the Celtics decided to let him go.
The Celtics recently signed Indiana Pacers swingman Osha Brissett to bolster their bench, and he will replace Williams in the rotation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NcDtbJWQRM
Stevens reshuffles deck with another trade
Celtics general manager Brad Stevens has been very active this offseason. He traded guard Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a three-team trade that sent center Krispus Porzingis to the Celtics from the Washington Wizards.
In the original trade for Porzingis, Stevens attempted to trade reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers declined Brogdon's transfer due to Brogdon's health. Stevens quickly pivoted and traded Smart to the Grizzlies in order to acquire Porzingis from the Wizards.
Stevens remains interested in trading Brogdon. The Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves are both on the list of possible trade partners. The Celtics would like to sign forward OG Anunoby if the Raptors decide to trade forward OG Anunoby with a contract that includes Brogdon. There are also rumors that the Timberwolves may send veteran point guard Mike Conley to the Celtics in exchange for Brogdon.
The Celtics are also interested in Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard despite his request to be traded to the Miami Heat mentioned in trade rumors. According to DraftKings, the Celtics have a +550 odds of including Lillard in a trade. They are the second-highest team on the betting charts, behind only the Heat.
Stevens and the Celtics have been slow to reach an agreement with starter Jaylen Brown. They have yet to finalize Brown's $295 million supermax contract extension.
Williams joins rebounding Mavericks
The Mavericks reached the Western Conference Finals in 2022, but missed the playoffs in 2023 and did not even qualify for the play-offs.
Last February, the Mavericks gave up three draft picks and a number of role players to acquire point guard Kyrie Irving in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. The move backfired and they missed the playoffs. Irving and Luka Doncic didn't have immediate chemistry, and the Mavericks went just 5-11 in the 16 games they played together.
Irving wanted the Los Angeles Lakers to sign him this offseason, but the Lakers didn't want his services. Few teams were interested in Irving, leaving him no choice but to sign a three-year, $126 million contract with the Mavericks.
By acquiring Williams, the Mavericks added an excellent 3D player to the starting lineup as a solid complement to Doncic and Irving. Williams is currently recovering from hand surgery but is expected to be back to full strength by the start of training camp with the Mavericks. The Mavericks recently signed shooting guard Seth Curry via free agency and signed veteran guard Dante Exum. They have enough cap space to sign another veteran via mid-level waivers. They signed forward Matisse Thybulle, but the restricted free agent will return to the Portland Trail Blazers after the Trail Blazers matched the Mavericks' offer.
In the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, the Mavericks selected Duke center Dereck Lively II and Marquette forward Olivier Maxons-Prosper ( Olivier-Maxence Prosper). They also acquired center Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings in a draft-night trade.
The Mavericks have a +1200 chance to win the Western Conference next season, and they have a +2200 chance to win the 2023-24 NBA Championship.
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