Marc Stein has reported discussions surrounding a potential trade involving Grant Williams of the Dallas Mavericks and Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks. The NBA trade deadline approaches, and the Bucks have been actively engaging with various teams. According to Stein, who has described the Bucks as “super aggressive” in the market, talks have taken place between Milwaukee and Dallas regarding this potential swap.
However, Stein clarified that the Bucks are not interested in a straight one-for-one trade involving Portis and Williams. Additional players or possibly even other teams would need to be involved in the deal for it to proceed.
Williams, aged 25, joined the Mavericks through a sign-and-trade deal last offseason, signing a four-year contract worth $54 million. He has maintained similar statistics to his final season with the Boston Celtics, averaging 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, with shooting percentages of .410/.373/.729.
Notably, Bucks fans may recall Williams’ memorable performance in Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where he made 7 out of 18 three-point attempts, setting a record for most makes and attempts in a Game 7. However, since then, Williams has not replicated such high-scoring performances, only surpassing 20 points on five occasions, despite assuming a full-time starting role with the Mavericks. The fact that the Mavericks are considering moving him confirms speculation from recent months.
The potential addition of Williams to the Bucks’ roster as a defensive option off the bench alongside Jae Crowder and Andre Jackson Jr. presents an intriguing prospect. This move would allow for AJJ’s development while enhancing the team’s defensive versatility and injecting some youth. However, losing Portis, who has been a valued player for the Bucks, and transitioning from a big capable of playing the center position to a 6’6″ forward presents its challenges.
As the trade deadline approaches, further updates on this potential deal will be provided.
