Grant Williams Wasn’t In ‘Good Shape’ With Mavericks

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Grant Williams wasn’t in “good shape” with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks were determined to move Williams at the NBA trade deadline and wound up trading the forward to the Charlotte Hornets. 

“I would say one of the ways that Grant Williams rubbed people the wrong way, the yap, yap, yapping obviously that’s kind of part of it with him,” MacMahon said on The Hoops Collective Podcast with Brian Windhorst. “Which it’s charmingly obnoxious if he’s productive and it’s grating when he’s not. But he didn’t report in good shape and Grant Williams not in good shape is not a good defender. Grant Williams has proven throughout the course of his career when he gets in shape he can be an impactful defender. But that’s not the guy that the Mavericks got.”

The Mavericks acquired Williams from the Boston Celtics last summer in a sign-and-trade deal. Williams, who has the same agent (Bill Duffy) as Dallas star Luka Doncic, signed a four-year, $53 million contract as part of the sign-and-trade deal. 

Williams averaged 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists with the Mavericks before getting traded to the Hornets while shooting 41.3% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and 74.5% from the free-throw line. 

The Mavericks traded Williams and Seth Curry to the Hornets for PJ Washington. Williams hasn’t commented on the rumors that he rubbed people in Dallas the wrong way. 

Williams is making $12.4 million this season. He has career averages of 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists with the Celtics, Mavericks and Hornets. Williams was the 19th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Tennessee.

The Hornets and Mavericks play each other on April 9 at the Spectrum Center in North Carolina. It will be intriguing to see how Williams is greeted by his former teammates.