Mavericks' breakout speedster makes pivotal change to remain in Dallas

Free agency is a time that offers great opportunities for players to pursue new opportunities, but also leaves teams empty-handed if they don't play their cards right. The Dallas Mavericks will be in a difficult position with Brandon Williams this offseason as he enters unrestricted free agency, but he's showing enough as a playmaker to prove that Dallas should keep him around.

Playmaking is an extremely important skill for backup point guards to have, especially when they're playing alongside a star like Cooper Flagg, and Williams' growth as a passer has been evident as of late.

Brandon Williams is improving exactly where he needed to

He finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and seven assists last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, proving that he is much more than a downhill scorer. Williams has now dished out five or more assists in six of the last eight games, and his emergence in this department couldn't have come at a better time.

The breakout guard connected with Daniel Gafford on multiple alley-oops on Monday, and one with Cooper Flagg, as he was continuously making the right decision in transition.

His passing helped get Flagg a couple of easy slams, and their chemistry was easy to see. Flagg and Williams have been on the same page for some time now, and having a strong on-court connection with Flagg is important for the speedy guard as he enters a crucial offseason.

"His decision-making, getting guys the ball, he’s doing that at a very high level," Jason Kidd said after the game. "And so again, I thought he was a positive the whole game, but I thought he was really good in that first half, being able to decision-make, being able to get Cooper on the fly."

Every move that Dallas makes moving forward will be centered around Flagg, and Williams' growing on-court synergy with him is something that the Mavericks definitely have to consider before making a decision about his future with the team.

The Mavericks' backcourt depth has been one of their weaknesses this season, but things are poised to change for the better once Kyrie Irving returns. Dallas elected for Irving to miss the entire 2025-26 season as he recovers from ACL surgery, but just because he's coming back doesn't mean they don't need strong options behind him.

Dallas needs reliable depth behind Kyrie Irving

The Mavericks' current point guards, Williams and Ryan Nembhard, are both entering an extremely important summer. Nembhard has a team option on his contract, while Williams will be a free agent, and Dallas may not have room to keep them both.

Both players give the Mavericks a unique look when leading the offense, as Williams has the speed and two-level scoring to keep the defense on their heels. His ability to get to the rim and score from the mid-range has helped him take his game to another level this season, as he's averaging a career-high 12.8 points per game, and he and Nembhard's development have been two of the most promising stories of the season.

Nembhard's game is quite different from Williams, as he is a true floor general who reads the game at the level of an experienced veteran. He leads all rookies in assists per game at 4.9, and he has shown flashes that he can develop into a three-level scorer due to his stop-and-pop jumper from the mid-range and effecient 3-point jumper.

Williams is proving he can lead the offense

For most of the season, Kidd relied on Nembhard to run the show when the team needed playmaking, and Williams for if he needed scoring and some energy. They've been Kidd's only two choices for most of the season, and while their minute distribution was often similar, their impacts were completely different.

Now, with less than 10 games left in the regular season, Williams is proving that he can impact the game with his passing as well. This changes everything for him ahead of free agency, and his evolution as a point guard gives the Mavericks another thing to think about as they look to return to the NBA Playoffs next season.