LAS VEGAS – When Grant Williams first heard that he was on the Mavericks’ radar as a restricted free agent, it got his attention.
“I remember being super stoked and excited because of the organization and the people there,” Williams said Friday while taking in the Mavericks’ 112-91 victory over Indiana at the NBA 2K24 Summer League.
“And also the team and the potential there and the growth they have shown. Coming off a Western Conference finals appearance two years ago. And the past year not necessarily having the year they wanted to have, and getting Kyrie and trying to accustom themselves to a new group.
“Being a part of that (the goal is to) hopefully building a foundation to have great success and get back to not only the Western Conference finals, but further.”
Williams was acquired by the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade with Boston that also sent Reggie Bullock to San Antonio and moved numerous second-round draft picks around.
But the bottom line is that Williams, who will be going into his fifth season, got the desired ending in free agency.
But it wasn’t always pleasant.
“Very difficult. Restricted free agency is terrible,” Williams said. “Unrestricted, you have a good understanding of where you want to go, but restricted, you’re pretty much in a waiting game.
“You want to make sure you understand what the offers are but also understand that teams might match or a team might be asking for more than another team is willing to give. It’s definitely an interesting process. I still think free agency is a little bit fun, but also a little bit nerve-wracking.”
Williams has spent his first few days as a Maverick getting to know everybody in the organization. He has been impressed with everything he’s seen so far.
And, he’s getting close to getting the splint off his left hand, on which he had surgery in early June to repair a torn ligament. It’s his non-shooting hand.
“It’s going great,” he said of the recovery. “I should be out of it (the protective splint) in four days, five days. So pretty much back to the court and moving from then on.”
The on-court stuff will happen soon enough, but the bonding processes with teammates and the staff already has begun.
“It’s been great,” he said. “I met a bunch of the guys at dinner one of the first nights I was here in Vegas. The coaching staff has been amazing. Great dialogue about what’s upcoming, but also what’s expected. I’m super-excited. Being in a different environment, you never know what to expect. But it’s been very welcoming and I feel like I’m already part of the family.”
In four years with the Celtics, Williams built a reputation for his defense and his ability to knock down shots.
He’s improved his scoring and rebounding numbers in every season. But it’s the 40.3 percent shooting from three-point range the last two seasons that has the Mavericks giddy over getting the 6-6 forward.
“Grant Williams provides personality,” Mavericks’ summer league coach Jared Dudley said. “He’s good for the locker room. He provides elite three-point shooting. He’s (able to) guard guys. He’s going to be a major part of our team and our success this year.”
Williams was born in Texas, but he doesn’t consider himself a Texan. Not yet, anyway.
He grew up in North Carolina, but is looking forward to being in Texas after four years in Boston.
“It’ll be great,” he said. “The weather, being able to golf year-round is something I’m stoked about.”
After a week in Las Vegas’ “dry” heat, the rest of the summer in Dallas might not seem so bad.
Mavericks improve to 3-1: The Mavericks followed the lead of diminutive guard Jordan “Jelly” Walker to cruise to a 112-91 victory over Indiana on Friday.
The 5-11 Walker had 21 points and dished out eight of the Mavericks’ 20 assists, which was by far their highest total of summer league. The rookie out of Alabama-Birmingham has been catching a lot of eyes. And he’s listening and learning from some of the best players who are vertically challenged.
“Fred Van Vleet said in an interview the other day, a sub-6-foot guard, you got to be able to defend,” Walker said. “You got to be a pest on defense and you got to be able to make the three-ball. And I think defensively I’m definitely getting better. And I know I can hit the three-ball. Those are the two things you really need.”
And there’s more.
“I have been watching a lot of J.J. Barea (after) I found out the Mavs wanted me to come out,” Walker said. “He had a long career and that’s something I’m looking forward to as well.”
The Mavericks were led against the Pacers by 24 points from A.J. Lawson, who hit 10-of-12 shots.
“A.J. Lawson is a Corey Brewer mix – super athletic, skinny, wiry,” Dudley said. “Has to be more physical defensively. Has to get a little tougher, nastier to play in this league.
“But has all the tools. Shot it well today – just play in transition, do the little things, play hard defense, hit corner threes and you’ll have a chance.”
Deals made official: The Mavericks announced the signing of guard Seth Curry on Friday.
The agreement had been reached earlier this month when free agency began.
Curry, along with Williams, should give the Mavericks a major upgrade when it comes to three-point proficiency. Curry has shot 43.5 percent from beyond the arc in his career and has hit better than 40 percent in each of the last seven seasons, the longest active streak in the league.
But that wasn’t the only roster movement on Friday.
Dudley said after Friday’s game the Mavericks will sign Taze Moore to an Exhibit 10 contract. That’s a part of what Dudley said he felt was his job as the Mavericks’ summer-league coach.
“When I came to summer league, (the priority was) to win games, we’re 3-1,” he said. “It was (also) to get people jobs, Braxton Key got a two-way (deal with Denver) and we just gave Taze Moore an exhibit 10.”
The Mavericks on Friday also officially signed Mike Miles Jr. to a two-way deal.
That came after Dante Exum was signed earlier Friday.
Twitter: @ESefko
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