What's Next for Mavs Following Grant Williams Trade?
Less than 24 hours before the Dallas Mavericks were able to sign a restricted free agent to an offer sheet, GM Nico Harrison struck gold with a sign-and-trade for one of the players Dallas coveted the most.
First reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Mavs agreed to acquire RFA Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics in a three-team sign-and-trade deal that included the San Antonio Spurs. In the deal, the Mavericks also received two future second-round picks, the Spurs received Reggie Bullock and a pick swap in 2030 with Dallas, and the Celtics get multiple second-round picks.
Dallas had been rumored to have strong interest in Williams, and it struck a deal before any competing team put an offer sheet on the table once the restricted free agency window opened on Thursday morning.
But now, what's next for the Mavs?
With acquiring Williams, who inked a four-year, $54 million contract, the Mavericks still have their Mid-Level Exception in play to use but of the $12.4 exception, Dallas may only use $9 million without exceeding the first apron, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.
With the MLE, Dallas is rumored to have plans to target Portland Trail Blazers' restricted free agent Matisse Thybulle, who 'intends to sign' an offer sheet with the Mavs. Per NBA insider Marc Stein, the Trail Blazers have been 'sending signals' around the league that they plan to match any offer for their free agent wing defender, but that will be put to the test if the Mavericks do indeed sign Thybulle to an offer sheet come Thursday.
Outside of Dallas' interest in Thybulle, the Mavs can create $3.4 million of room by waiving and stretching veteran center JaVale McGee, per Marks, who the team has been attempting to trade since last season's deadline. After signing a three-year deal last summer to be Dallas' starting center, McGee vastly underperformed and was quickly removed from the starting lineup and the rotation almost completely.
Beyond attempting to move McGee's contract, Dallas has also been active in looking for a suitor to take on Tim Hardaway Jr. and the remaining two years of his deal while also searching for an upgrade at the starting center position. Given the reunion with Seth Curry and the fascination with second-year guard Jaden Hardy, the need for Hardaway Jr.'s scoring and streaky shooting off the bench is less in demand than in year's past.
If Dallas can find a taker for Hardaway Jr. and McGee in order to land the final piece to their offseason puzzle, which is a starting-caliber center, Harrison and company deserve a huge pat on the back and an ice-cold beer as they'd head into the 2023-24 with a potential contending level roster.
Follow Michael Mulford on Twitter. Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Mavericks? Click Here. Follow DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Facebook.
