The Dallas Mavericks’ quiet period in free-agency news has come to an end.
Reports substantiate that the Mavericks have partaken in a tripartite sign-and-trade agreement, procuring the services of Grant Williams, a restricted free agent hailing from the Boston Celtics. This move is expected to bolster their front-court and defensive capabilities, providing an immediate improvement. The negotiations were confirmed by an individual familiar with the matter on Wednesday evening.
This agreement has been facilitated through a sign-and-trade arrangement between the two teams.
In exchange, the Celtics will acquire two second-round picks and create a $6.2 million trade exception using Williams’ outgoing salary.
The San Antonio Spurs will be acquiring Reggie Bullock, the starting wing for the Mavericks, as well as an unprotected first-round pick swap for 2030.
Williams, who was selected as the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft from the University of Tennessee, has completed four seasons in the NBA. He is now only one season away from reaching the milestone of qualifying for unrestricted free agency.
On July 6, opposing teams can begin extending offer sheets to their target restricted free agents, allowing them to propose contracts. The new collective bargaining agreement grants incumbent teams 24 hours to decide whether to match the deal and retain the player or to part ways with the restricted free agent without any additional compensation.
In this case, the Mavericks have opted for the three-team trade to bypass potential complications. By doing so, they avoid the need for Williams to receive offer sheets from other teams.
It’s essential not to overlook Williams’ potential impact on the Mavericks’ frontcourt, despite his puzzling absence from the Celtics’ playoff rotation. He has the ability to contribute on both ends of the court, having gained valuable postseason experience during Boston’s journey to the 2022 NBA Finals and this year’s Eastern Conference finals.
While 32-year-old Reggie Bullock has been a dependable 3-and-D starter for the Mavericks in recent years, the team sees his departure in this trade as a successful negotiation rather than losing rising talents like Josh Green and Jaden Hardy.
