Dallas Mavericks insider reveals how the team really felt about Grant Williams

The Dallas Mavericks' acquisition of Grant Williams via sign-and-trade in the past offseason was regarded as a genius decision, ranking highly among the team's moves in the summer. After all, the former Boston Celtic was supposed to fill a void on the Mavs' roster and address some of their weaknesses.

Unfortunately, his short stint in Dallas was a disappointment, as he couldn't sustain his hot start and saw himself in and out of the starting lineup. The organization opted to move on from Williams at the trade deadline, shipping him to the Charlotte Hornets for promising forward, P.J. Washington.

It looks like the trade was more than just about landing Washington, as Williams may have worn out his welcome in Dallas.

Dallas Mavericks insider reveals how the team really felt about Grant Williams

Appearing on the "Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective" podcast, Mavs insider Tim McMahon revealed that the former No. 22 pick might have talked his way out of the team. McMahon said Williams "rubbed people the wrong way" partly because of his "yap, yap, yapping." 

The thing is, the Mavs probably knew that "Batman" had a penchant for running his mouth before bringing him in. He even had an infamous run-in with Jimmy Butler in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, which the Miami Heat star later admitted fueled his competitive drive. Following the altercation, the Heat went on a 24-9 run to go up 2-0 against the Celtics.

Even so, Dallas would have been fine if Williams couldn't keep his mouth shut had he been able to back it up with fine play. As it turned out, he was reportedly "not in good shape" when he joined the team. The 25-year-old vet also failed to consistently carry out his 3-and-D role, which was the franchise's primary motivation for committing more than $50 million to him. Perhaps his lack of optimal conditioning contributed to his subpar production.

If McMahon's reports are accurate, the Mavs probably didn't take long to get over seeing Williams in a different uniform. The fact that Dallas is 4-0 since the trade with Washington playing solidly also helps. 

Mavs coach Jason Kidd even has already put Washington into the starting lineup, and he has thrived as a defender.

Williams has also thrived with the Hornets, who are also 3-0 since the deal. He even appears to have taken a veiled shot at his previous employer while talking about enjoying the opportunity to suit up for Charlotte, where he spent his childhood.

Interestingly, he is set to miss the postseason for the first time in his career, as the Hornets rank near the bottom of the East. As for Dallas, it is still in the thick of the playoff race and looks primed to make a run for one of the West's top-six seeds, especially since it is currently on a six-game winning streak.

Stay tuned to read more news about the Dallas Mavericks.