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- Grant Williams didn't fit in with Dallas and didn't play well enough, leading to a trade to the Charlotte Hornets.
- Williams is said to have caused drama and turned people in uncomfortable directions with his tendency to “yell” and poor conditioning.
- In Charlotte, Williams will have the opportunity to grow without the pressure to win and could be a leader on a young team.
The Dallas Mavericks strengthened their frontcourt ahead of the NBA trade deadline, trading Seth Curry, Grant Williams and a future first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets along with P.J. Washington. Williams was acquired by Dallas during the summer in a sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics.
Williams was supposed to be extremely important to Dallas as they look to win a title alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Instead, Williams made enemies in Dallas, and his play wasn't good enough to justify keeping him amidst the drama he allegedly caused.
As an undersized power forward, Williams was expected to be a reliable shooter and defender who could provide some support to Dallas' star-studded backcourt. Instead, he showed little improvement and was traded after just one season with the Mavericks.
|
Grant Williams Improvement |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Category |
2022-23 season (BOS) |
2023-24 season (DAL) |
|
GP |
79 |
47 |
|
PPG |
8.1 |
8.1 |
|
Rev |
4.6 |
3.6 |
|
3PA |
3.7 |
4.5 |
|
3PT% |
39.5% |
37.6% |
Since being traded to the Hornets, Williams has established himself in a solid role, averaging 18 points and shooting 41.7 percent from deep in two games, and is expected to become a better player with less pressure. .
Williams wasn't a good fit for Dallas.
'Uncomfortable' Williams didn't help himself
Grant Williams had no friends in Dallas. That much became clear after the trade deadline, but the extent of his relationship with the Mavericks is still unclear.Hit ESPN Tim McMahon, Williams' tendency to “rant” took advantage of him.
“One of the ways Grant Williams has rubbed people the wrong way is clearly part of his personality, gah, gah, gaping. It's charmingly unpleasant if he's productive. But when he's not, it's frustrating. But he hasn't been very good, and Grant Williams, who hasn't been good, is not a good defender.”
In addition to his locker room antics, Williams wasn't playing well when he arrived in Dallas and was struggling to keep up with training regimens. That attitude and behavior alienated him from his teammates, as Dallas was committed to winning a title.
Charlotte is in full rebuild mode, so the pressure to win is non-existent. With a new environment and playing in a new market, Williams can focus on continuing to improve and carve out a role, just like he did in Boston.
The Hornets are still at the bottom of the league, but they have a young core of exciting talent. With Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball, and Mark Williams all showing promise, there's reason to think Williams could end up being the team's leader.
In addition, “hooting” may be acceptable to Charlotte, as she adopts a loud and fearless style. As the team grows and starts winning games heading into next season, having a physical veteran who can talk some trash might be just what the team needs to find motivation.
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