For those who are late to the party, the Dallas Mavericks acquired Grant Williams in an off season three-team trade with the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics. As part of the agreement, they received two second-round picks from the Spurs.
Following the transaction, the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach reported a humorous exchange between Williams and Boston Celtics standout Jayson Tatum.
“I’m gonna bust your [butt] when we play Dallas,” Tatum threatened Williams.
Williams responded, “You think? You cannot turn left. And I’m going to get aggressive with you, and you’re going to go cry to the refs.”
Mazzula, Joe Grant Williams responds
Williams was one of the Celtics’ glue people, helping them reach the NBA Finals for the first time in more than a decade in 2022. But questions began to swirl about whether the Celtics could afford to keep Williams, who was fast establishing himself as one of the league’s top defenders.
The team was aware that one of their stars, Jaylen Brown, was up for a contract extension.
“You think?” Williams responded. You are unable to turn left. And I’m going to be forceful with you, and you’re going to run to the refs to weep.”
Joe Mazzula Grant Williams replies Williams was the Celtics’ glue guy, helping them reach the NBA Finals for the first time in almost a decade in 2022. However, speculation began to circulate about whether the Celtics could afford to keep Williams, who was quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s finest defenders.
Jaylen Brown, one of the team’s stars, was due for a contract extension.
Despite the break, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had nothing but praise for Williams after his trade to the Mavericks.
“I think the number one goal when you get a guy and have someone who’s been with you for three or four years is to leave it better than you found it, and I thought Grant did a great job of that.” “I’m thrilled for him to have the opportunity to do what he does best in Dallas, and I wish him nothing but the best,” Mazzulla told reporters via CLNS.
“As an assistant coach, I had a lot of relationships, and he was one of the guys I was able to get really close with over my few years here, along with a few others.” So I’m grateful for him as a person, and I’m pleased for him.
Christian Wood cited by an insider for ‘personality issues’
The Mavericks made the difficult choice to part ways with Christian Wood this summer. But it wasn’t just the Mavericks that were hesitant to sign Wood. Most teams in the league had qualms about signing him, which is why he stayed unsigned for the majority of the free agency season.
Last season, the standout big man averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game for the Mavericks. He also hit 37.6% of his three-point attempts.
Despite those figures, Wood remained a free agent in the weeks leading up to training camp before signing a two-year deal with the Lakers in September. It makes you wonder why.
According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, the former Mavericks big man had “personality issues” in August, but the Lakers were still interested in signing him.
“Despite defensive shortcomings and personality issues, [Christian] Wood appears to be the [Lakers’] top choice,” Woike wrote.
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