Grant Williams' second traded within the last six months during the NBA trade deadline on February 8 -- along with Seth Curry and a lightly protected 2027 first-round draft pick from the Dallas Mavericks in a deal with the Charlotte Hornets for PJ Washington and a pair of second-round picks -- had the Boston Celtics beat in a frenzy. The responses varied from being dismissive to being hopeful about Williams returning to the state he grew up in (North Carolina).
"So the Mavs swapping Grant for PJ Washington ends the 'Luka has no real help' narrative right?" asked Barstool Sports' Dan Greenberg.
"Whew that Grant Williams signing did not go well in Dallas," deadpanned The Boston Sports Journal's Jon Karalis.
"Grant heads home to Charlotte on a team that needs some defensive leadership," The Athletic's Jared Weiss prefaced before saying, "Hornets are dead last in the league on defense."
On a day that saw several ex-Celtics traded and Boston make a move for Jaden Springer of the Philadelphia 76ers, Williams' departure from the Mavs is a surprise in its own right -- and an indictment of his fit with the Dallas Mavericks.
Mavericks were ready to give up on former Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams
Even before the deadline saw Williams land in the Queen City, there were signs that the Mavericks were at the end of the road with the late Danny Ainge-era draft pick. Rumors were swirling that the Milwaukee Bucks were looking to land Williams using Bobby Portis as a trade chip, but that obviously fizzled out before the finish line.
Williams' shooting wasn't up to his own standard in Dallas, and he wasn't "personally" a fit in the Kyrie Irving and/or Luka Doncic-led Mavs locker room. He's now in a spot where he can slowly grow into his role, and Dallas may just be better off with Washington in tow.