Brandon Williams finally gets some deserved interest after breakout Mavericks season

From out of the NBA three years ago to averaging 13.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game for the Dallas Mavericks, Brandon Williams broke out in his age-26 season, yet his tremendous season has somehow gone largely unrecognized. That is, until late into the offseason, when the Golden State Warriors reportedly showed interest in the former Arizona Wildcat.

The Warriors could give Brandon Williams another chance

After a quiet start to the NBA offseason for Williams, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Golden State's interest in the speedy guard, writing, "Free agents who I'm told are drawing legitimate interest from Golden State for the Warriors' open roster spots: Georges Niang and Brandon Williams."

The Warriors are still in need of filling several roster spots, and with the season drawing closer, their options are running thin. Golden State only has 13 players on its roster, meaning two slots, as Stein hinted at, need to be filled.

For what it's worth, "running thin" is about as bleak as it sounds. The Warriors' options aren't too plentiful, with several restricted free agents among the most marquee names, while notable veterans headline the unrestricted free agent big board. Consequently, with Golden State's salary cap room sparse and their status as a contender not all too plausible, a player of Williams' stature makes plenty of sense.

Yet, for as much sense as Williams makes for the Warriors, the fit is just as good for Williams.

Williams' breakout campaign went under the radar in Dallas. After how he performed last season, it seemed like Williams would have found his next team by now. For all his faults (so-so defense and shaky perimeter shooting), Williams is exceptional at what he does well.

Brandon Williams' Mavericks breakout deserved more attention

Williams is terrific at getting downhill and fits the mold as a sparkplug scorer off the bench. He finished 10th among all qualified players in free-throw rate, averaged 6.8 points per game on drives, and scored 3.5 per game in transition.

For a Warriors team that averaged the fourth-fewest transition points per game, Williams makes sense as the type of player who can generate easy buckets for an offense predicated on catch-and-shoot opportunities.

However, looking through Williams' lens, landing with the Warriors would be an ideal next move for his future. His breakout with the Mavericks was likely not as hyped for two reasons. First, Dallas' porous 26-56 record. Second, because the Mavericks were so bad, Williams received an extended opportunity that he likely wouldn't have received elsewhere.

Williams averaged 9.3 field goal attempts per game and recorded a 25.1 usage percentage. He ranked in the top 60 league-wide in field goal attempts per 36 minutes and usage rate. Thus, Williams received an extended opportunity in Dallas that he likely wouldn't have received on many teams across the association.

Still, that shouldn't hurt Williams to the point where it seemed only a potential training camp contract was on the books. He showed enough in Dallas to warrant at least an opportunity on a standard guaranteed contract, and the Warriors could be the perfect team to give him another chance to prove that he belongs in the NBA.

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