Mavericks would be ‘hasty’ using last tradeable pick on Boston Celtics RFA: Analyst

It’d be “hasty” for the Dallas Mavericks to use their last tradeable draft pick on restricted Boston Celtics free agent Grant Williams according to Dallas Basketball’s Dalton Trigg — who sees a role player of Williams’ ilk as unworthy of such a move considering the pieces already on the roster.

“As much as the Mavs would like to fill as many roster holes as possible this summer, doing something hasty like burning your only available first-round pick (2027) for a player of Williams’ caliber would be a major mistake,” Trigg prefaced before saying, “Dallas has some good things going for it after getting Kyrie Irving to re-sign to a long-term deal and drafting promising young rookies Dereck Lively II and OMax Prosper, and there’s simply no need to dampen those good vibes by trading a pick for another role player.”

Under the NBA’s new CBA, players making the amount Williams is likely about to make don’t fit next to two max-contract stars like Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic unless they are the piece that’d put said franchise over the top. As much of a contributor Williams has been and can be on both sides of the ball, few would categorize him as such.

Mavericks analyst feels Boston Celtics RFA ‘perfectly acceptable’ for the MLE

Trigg didn’t write off the idea of the Mavs stealing Williams away from the Boston Celtics and all his other interested suitors completely; conceding that at the mid-level exception, Williams would be a “perfectly acceptable” addition.

“If the Mavs want to offer Williams the MLE, that’s perfectly acceptable,” Trigg prefaced before saying, “He might have better offers, but if that’s the case, you let him walk and look elsewhere for upgrades in free agency or trades. And if he does accept an offer sheet worth the MLE amount, Dallas should call Boston’s bluff on matching.”

Boston likely isn’t bluffing when it comes to bringing back Williams at the MLE. Heavy’s Adam Taylor feels the Celtics match it without blinking.

When it comes to the Boston Celtics, the Mavericks, and every other team with eyes on Williams, it’s not clear just who exactly will blink first.