Nets Officially Land Ex-Lottery Pick Ziaire Williams In Trade With Grizzlies

July 20, 2024

It’s official — forward Ziaire Williams is now a member of the Brooklyn Nets.

That’s because the trade that sent Williams, a 2030 second-round pick (via Dallas) and a trade exception from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Nets has been announced. In exchange, the Grizzlies receive big man Mamadi Diakite, the draft rights to forward Nemanja Dangubic and, yes, a trade exception as well.

Some may not remember Williams, but he was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Injuries have severely hampered his chance to live up to his pre-lottery expectations, but the rebuilding Nets could be the ideal spot to raise his game.

“Williams, who will earn $6.1 million in the final season of his rookie contract in 2024-25, averaged 8.2 points and shot just 30.7 percent from 3-point range in 20.4 minutes per game over 51 appearances last year for the Grizzlies,” wrote Peter Botte of the New York Post.

Hip and back injuries kept Williams out of action entirely in the final month of the season.

“Memphis was looking to shed salary to stay under the first luxury-tax apron of the salary cap; Diakite is slated to make $2.27 million this season after appearing in just six NBA games in 2023-24 — three apiece with the Spurs and the Knicks,” Botte wrote.

Granted, this trade hardly moves the needle for anyone involved, but the Nets’ new plan is seemingly to save some money as they build through the draft. And in the process, perhaps they can find a diamond in the rough. Maybe Williams will fit such a description.