The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Grant Williams to a four-year, $54 million contract with the Boston Celtics. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the arrangement is part of a multi-team transaction that also includes the San Antonio Spurs.
Dallas is sending Reggie Bullock and an unprotected 2030 draft pick to San Antonio as part of the transaction.Boston and Dallas will each receive two second-round draft picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Mavericks benefit financially from signing Williams in a sign-and-trade agreement. It permits them to keep their Mid-Level Exception and use it to chase free agents, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.Dallas’ primary free agent target remains Matisse Thybulle.
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 established himself as a starter. Dallas relied on his versatility to guard several spots while also stretching the field offensively. Despite being a streaky shooter who averaged 37% on three-pointers in his two seasons in Dallas, he would become hot late in the season.
In 146 regular season and 18 playoff games, he averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.