Mavericks breakout guard must fix this glaring flaw before it's too late

While the Dallas Mavericks' season has started slowly with 11 wins and 17 losses, their young core has begun to stand out. Even last season, through the Mavericks' struggles after the Luka Doncic trade, Brandon Williams emerged as a guard who looked like he'd have a bright future in Dallas. But through his first 25 games, he has truly become an indispensable piece in Dallas' offense; however, this doesn't excuse him from possibly losing his role when Kyrie Irving returns from his torn ACL.

While Williams has emerged as a valuable player in Dallas' backcourt, the reality of his situation is that his 3-point shooting needs to improve if he wants to be a key piece in Dallas' core. Before fans realize it, Irving will be back, and this could be a very real wake-up call for Williams that his role may not be as guaranteed as it once was. Minutes within the Mavericks' backcourt will be as scarce as they've been all season, and he has to start knocking down open shots.

Williams has truly emerged as a release valve for the Mavericks' stagnant offense, but with Ryan Nembhard's ascension, he lost the starting job after just a few games. Despite this, if his 3-point shooting improves, he should be able to retain a role off the bench for the rest of the season. The second Irving returns, the backcourt is going to be packed, and this is why improving his shot will be of all-time importance for Williams if he wants to maintain his longevity with the Mavericks and in the NBA.

Williams' 3-point shooting may decide his Mavericks fate

The Williams saga in Dallas has been filled with peaks and valleys, and he was excellent when Irving or Doncic were out of the lineup last season. Williams made his money as one of the team's reserve guards who essentially became a heartbeat of the team during their injury spell, but with Dallas's lack of ball handling this season, he has become a vital piece in Jason Kidd's rotation.

While it's easy to see Williams' importance on a nightly basis, the likelihood of him keeping his rotation spot in Kidd's offense could be limited due to his 19.2 percent shooting from behind the arc this year. By no means is Williams a bad shooter. He shot 40 percent from three last season, and was one of the most consistent shooters on the team at the end of the season.

But this time around, his role with Irving soon returning to Dallas' lineup could hinge on his three-point shot making, no matter how ugly it may seem.

To make matters worse for Williams' case is that over the last few weeks, two-way rookie standout Ryan Nembhard has become Dallas' nightly starting guard, and with Irving returning at some point this season, this could mean the end of Williams' role barring any injuries. Nembhard has excelled at dishing the ball and setting up teamtes and while Williams provides a different kind of life support, his shooting needs to become a strong suit if he wants any chance at securing a concrete role in Kidd's offense.

Williams may just be breaking out of his shell in Dallas' rotation, but it could be only a matter of time before 3-point shooting holds him back from what could be an impressive professional career.