Mavericks must avoid tempting trade mistake at all costs

If the Dallas Mavericks look to upgrade their roster ahead of next season's trade deadline, which they are known for doing nearly every year, they can't fall into the trap of trading Brandon Williams to help the money match up of a potential deal. Williams is set to make $2.27 million next season before becoming a free agent next summer, and even though his salary could be the difference between a trade going through or not, the Mavs must do whatever it takes to keep him in Dallas.

Williams had a great end to last season, as he averaged 16.6 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in March while shooting 54.1 percent from the field, and losing him right before he hits his prime would be a major loss for Dallas. The Mavericks had him on a two-way deal for most of the season before giving him a standard deal before the postseason began, and he is clearly ready to be a young building block in Jason Kidd's rotation as the Cooper Flagg era begins.

He is only 25 years old, and after giving the entire world a preview of how dominant he can be at the end of the season, the Mavs should keep him around for as long as possible. Williams is entering his third season (second full season) with the organization, and the 2025-26 season could finally be the moment he's been waiting for.

Mavericks shouldn't even think about moving Brandon Williams

His career is ready to take off, especially if he can put together a full season of play similar to what he did on a nightly basis in March, and he has the skills to do that. The Mavericks' situation to start next season should be perfect for him, and it'll be a dress rehearsal to see if he can show Kidd that he doesn't deserve to be buried on the bench by the time the end of the year rolls around.

With Kyrie Irving out with a torn ACL to begin the year, Williams should get plenty of playing time, and this could be his chance to prove to Kidd that he deserves to be in the nightly rotation even once Irving returns. Backcourt minutes are going to be tough to come by once Irving is back in the lineup, especially with D'Angelo Russell in the mix now, but Williams' unique playstyle compared to many of the other guards on the team could set him apart.

Williams is one of the only players on the roster who prioritizes driving to the rim, and his craftiness and finishing around the bucket are remarkable. During his breakout stretch last season, Mavericks fans and even Kidd were quick to notice that he has many similarities to Irving in the way he plays, and Dallas shouldn't punt on him by any means.

This doesn't mean that Williams is set to become a star and one of the faces of the league like Irving, but it is clear that he is a high-level shot creator that any team would love to have come off their bench. He can light up the scoreboard in bunches with his 3-point shooting, floater, strong finishing, and pull-up jumper, and next season could be the time that he fully becomes a Mavericks staple and earns another contract with the team.

Mavericks fans can't afford to see another fan-favorite guard get traded, as losing Quentin Grimes and Luka Doncic last season was enough to handle, and Nico Harrison can't fall into the trap of getting rid of Williams. He will definitely get brought up in trade talks by other teams due to his potential and team-friendly deal, but the Mavs should trust his development and everything he has built over the last few years and allow him to keep growing within the organization.