Mavericks' 'toughest free agency decision' actually has an easy answer

In an article by Bleacher Report titled "Every NBA Team's Toughest 2026 Free-Agency Decision", Bleacher Report dubbed Brandon Williams as Dallas' toughest free agency decision. However, it should be a no-brainer for the Mavericks to bring Williams back this summer, unless he truly commands more on the open market than anyone thinks is possible.

The Mavericks have a $2.1 million team option they can either exercise or decline with 23-year-old guard Ryan Nembhard, and it seems overwhelmingly likely they'll end up exercising that option, given Nembhard's relationship with Cooper Flagg, as well as the fact that he gives a unique skillset to Dallas' point guard corps, being a true playmaker.

Nembhard's inclusion on next year's roster shouldn't come at the expense of Williams, though, as Williams' ability to get downhill with his speed is truly elite, and he can feast on second units with Kyrie Irving back in the lineup next season. Williams may not be considered a young player anymore, but he's probably just entering his prime at 26 years old, and he could be one of the best bench scorers in the league if he can improve his 3-point shot even marginally.

Dallas needs to bring back Brandon Williams this summer

It's not unheard of for players to continue to develop as they enter their prime. Take Marvin Bagley III as an example, as he shot the ball from distance at the best clip of his entire career in his age-27 season this past year. Williams' ball handling helps him get to his spots in the paint and mid-range area with a level of fluidity most smaller guards in the NBA don't have, as he's almost reminiscent of Irving in that aspect.

He shot 47.2 percent from the field despite shooting an abysmal 23.2 percent from outside last season, so imagine how efficient he'd be if he could get his 3-point percentage to even 30 percent. Williams has likely played himself out of veteran minimum territory at this point, but perhaps Dallas could use their Bi-Annual Exception, or part of their Non-Taxpayer's Mid-Level Exception, to bring him back next season.

To Bleacher Report's point, bringing back Williams may be a tough decision based on the financial implications, especially if Dallas drafts a point guard in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, he's proven himself to be a solid playmaker and stellar shot creator, as well as someone who fits great alongside Flagg, and pushes the pace in transition, which makes bringing him back next year extremely necessary.

Dallas would regret letting Williams walk

Williams gets knocked for his defense by critics, but he's not terrible on that end of the court, even if he can struggle against bigger guards and wings at times. He uses his speed and length well to get steals, and holds his own even if he isn't above average on that end of the floor, which is another advantage he holds compared to Nembhard.

If Dallas has the space this summer, this shouldn't be a matter of Nembhard or Williams, as both bring needed skillsets to the roster and have proven themselves as players Dallas should prioritize with the Flagg era kicking off. New team president Masai Ujiri will evaluate Dallas' roster holistically before making a decision on this, but anyone he talks to who was here from last season should have very high praise for Williams.

In conclusion, bringing back Williams may not be simple for Dallas this offseason, but it's something they have to put toward the top of their offseason priority list. His impact and the shots he can create will only be better playing against second units more often with Irving back in the lineup, and the Mavericks need to keep establishing some continuity following the Luka Doncic trade.

If Williams becomes respectable from the outside over the next few seasons, not re-signing him will be a decision Dallas will regret for a long time, especially with Irving entering his mid-thirties.

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