The Dallas Mavericks traded forward Grant Williams to the Charlotte Hornets at the deadline and as it turns out, the move was motivated by more than just Williams’ regressing play on the court.
During a recent appearance on "Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective" podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon revealed that the Mavericks had become fed up with Williams’ relentless “yapping.” Moreover, they were dismayed because the 25-year-old had let himself go.
“I would say one of the ways that Grant Williams rubbed people the wrong way, the yap, yap, yapping obviously that’s kind of part of it with him. Which it’s charmingly obnoxious if he’s productive and it’s grating when he’s not,” MacMahon said. “But he didn’t report in good shape and Grant Williams not in good shape is not a good defender.”
Williams’ tenure in Dallas lasted just 47 games. He steadily saw his minutes decrease this season, falling from an average of 28 minutes in November to an average of 22 minutes in January.
On February 8, the Mavericks finally pulled the plug and shipped Williams, Seth Curry and a 2027 first-round pick off to the aforementioned Hornets in exchange for P.J. Washington and two second-round picks.
Dallas posted a 5-0 record this season in games Williams sat out and has gone 4-0 since his trade. They also had a net rating of -4.0 with him on the floor and 3.9 with him on the bench.
Although Williams has played better in Charlotte thus far, it appears to be addition by subtraction for the Mavericks, who are also enjoying the silence.
More must-reads:
The Detroit Pistons have had an interesting offseason thus far as they try to build off an impressive season last year. Of course, the Pistons went from having the worst record in the NBA the prior two seasons to making the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference last season. Now with most of their core led by Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson set to return next season, they are looking to take advantage of a weakened East and clinch a top playoff spot. Despite this, the Pistons did lose Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroder and likely Malik Beasley in free agency, though they did sign Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. Detroit could still look to make more moves before the start of next season and Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman recently released a mock trade that would land the Pistons a former NBA champion. Pistons predicted to land Michael Porter Jr. from Nets In the trade, the Pistons would acquire Michael Porter Jr. from the Brooklyn Nets for Harris, Marcus Sasser, Bobi Klintman and a top-10 protected 2027 first-round pick. Brooklyn would also send Day’Ron Sharpe to the Atlanta Hawks for Vit Krejci and three second-round picks. This is an interesting trade for the Pistons to make and one that does not make a ton of sense as they would be moving on from two key players from last season in Harris and Sasser. Despite this, adding a knockdown shooter in Porter Jr. to their lineup along with a player who has championship experience from his time with the Denver Nuggets could be a solid addition to their roster. For Porter Jr., he is a great scorer who would provide some much-needed spacing in the Pistons’ starting lineup and would also slot in as their likely second option behind Cunningham. Porter Jr. has also improved defensively over the past few seasons, though swapping Harris and Sasser for him would be a major risk for the Pistons to take, especially with Porter Jr.’s injury history. While that may be the case, adding Porter Jr. next to their young core of Cunningham, Thompson, Duren, Jaden Ivey and Ron Holland II could make the Pistons a contender next season and for years to come.
The San Diego Padres announced Wednesday that they released veteran catcher Martin Maldonado, who was designated for assigment last week. The writing was on the wall when the Padres acquired Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals at last Thursday's trade deadline, upending their catching tandem. Fermin, 30, immediately got the opportunity to take the lion's share of innings behind the plate that he was never going to get in Kansas City. The Padres designated Maldonado for assignment in a corresponding roster move, ending the 38-year-old's tenure in San Diego. Maldonado hit .204 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 64 games, splitting time with Elias Diaz. The 2019 American League Gold Glove Award winner, Maldonado has played 1,230 games for seven different organizations since his 2011 debut. Maldonado is a career .203/.277/.343 hitter with the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-16), Angels (2017-18), Houston Astros (2018-23), Royals (2019), Chicago Cubs (2019), Chicago White Sox (2024) and Padres (2025). More to come on this story from Padres on SI.
Palworld Studio’s publishing division seems to have a knack for grabbing attention lately, and they’re not slowing down. The studio behind the highly anticipated monster-collecting survival game Palworld just announced they’ve signed yet another “very exciting game” to their lineup. And yes, we’re all ears—though we’re still trying to figure out how they balance releasing one banger after another without breaking a sweat. Their latest announcement follows hot on the heels of their impressive work backing a new horror game featuring talent tied to Baldur’s Gate 3 and Final Fantasy. It seems their publishing arm is becoming the go-to for delivering games that make players pause their beloved playthroughs and say, “Alright, fine, take my money.” What’s next, world domination? At this rate, we wouldn’t be surprised. Palworld’s Publishing Momentum is Unstoppable It’s no secret that Palworld itself has been a major talking point in the gaming sphere. This isn’t just your average monster-collecting game; it’s a delightfully chaotic mashup of Pokémon-like creature taming mixed with dystopian survival elements. And yes, you can wield guns while standing alongside your adorable (and potentially exploitable) pals. If that doesn’t scream absurd fun, what does? But what’s intriguing about Palworld Studio is how their publishing arm continues to expand with titles that don’t just ride on the coattails of Palworld’s buzz. Instead, they’re curating a diverse collection of innovative games that somehow scream “this is worth your time” even before you hit the download button. It’s becoming apparent that they’ve tapped into something most publishers can only dream of. From Horror to Hopeful Anticipation The recent horror game they helped bring to life is evidence of Palworld’s ability to pick winners. Featuring developers with experience on mammoth titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Final Fantasy, this game blurred the line between spine-tingling chills and jaw-dropping visuals. The kind of game that makes you want to leave the lights on, but also keeps you glued to the screen. This success wasn’t just a one-off. It proved that their publishing arm isn’t about quantity for the sake of it, but about finding games with real potential to connect with audiences. And now, with the news of their next “exciting game” signing, the studio is making it clear they’re not just a one-hit (Palworld) wonder. What Makes Palworld Studio Unique? What’s refreshing about the Studio is that they’re building a reputation not only for their own creations but also for their keen eye as a publisher. They’re choosing projects that feel distinct, well-crafted, and most importantly, fun. This combination of bold decision-making and a knack for gaming trends is likely why they’ve been so successful in catching the attention of hardcore gamers and casual players alike. While some publishers flood the market with games that feel like clones of one another, Palworld seems laser-focused on quality and originality. Whether it’s through survival horror or creature-collecting madness, they’re ensuring that each game they touch carves its own identity in the vast gaming landscape. What’s the Mystery Game? Of course, the identity of their latest “very exciting game” is still under wraps, and we’re left to speculate (read “obsessively refresh the news feed”) about what it could be. Is it another survival title? A new RPG with mind-blowing mechanics? Or perhaps something totally out of left field? The one thing we do know is that Palworld Studio has already proven its ability to deliver. Their track record alone is enough to keep gamers invested, and whatever this new project is, expectations are sky-high. No pressure, right? What Does the Future Hold for Palworld Studio? With Palworld still riding a tidal wave of hype and their publishing portfolio growing stronger with every announcement, it’s safe to say Palworld Studio has carved a spot for themselves as a major player in the industry. And if their next project lands as well as their previous efforts, they might just redefine everyone’s expectations for what a modern game studio and publisher can achieve. While we wait (impatiently) for their sensational mystery game to be revealed, all eyes are on Palworld. Will their unique blend of chaos and charm live up to the hype when it eventually drops? Judging by their track record, we’re willing to bet on it. Why Palworld Should Be On Your Radar If you haven’t been following the studio’s meteoric rise, you’re missing out. Whether it’s their quirky and ambitious Palworld or their growing list of well-crafted published games, everything this studio touches seems to turn into a hit. And with their latest announcement promising yet another gem on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to keep Palworld Studio on your radar (and your wishlist). Stay tuned, because if one thing’s clear about Palworld Studio, it’s that they’re just getting started.
Seventy players qualified for the first round of the playoffs at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, but only 69 will tee it up at TPC Southwind this week. That's because Rory McIlroy, who ranks second in the FedEx Cup standings behind only Scottie Scheffler, is skipping the first playoff event to prepare for the BMW Championship and Tour Championship. The PGA Tour isn't thrilled with his contentious decision. Peter Malnati, a PGA Tour pro and player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board, told Golfweek he's "very concerned" the new playoff format allows top players in the standings to skip playoff events. "I think there is stuff in the works, and I'll leave it at that," he said. The PGA Tour must make changes because McIlroy won't face any repercussions for skipping the FedEx St. Jude Championship. As the No. 2 player in the FedEx Cup standings entering the postseason, McIlroy is guaranteed to qualify for the Tour Championship. Before this year, he would've been incentivized to improve his spot in the standings because of the advantage the starting strokes format gave the No. 1 player. That's no longer the case. This year, the Tour Championship will operate like every other tournament on the PGA Tour schedule. There will be no starting strokes advantage for the top players, so every player from No. 1 to No. 30 will have an equal chance to win the $10 million prize. It doesn't matter where McIlroy resides in the standings. It just matters that he makes it to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, and he's already locked up his spot in the season finale. Why spend a week in scorching-hot Memphis when you could stay home and prepare for the tournament that actually matters, right? The new playoff format will make the Tour Championship more entertaining for fans, but it renders the other two playoff events irrelevant for the PGA Tour's top players. The Tour must make playoff events mandatory to prevent other stars from following McIlroy's lead.
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!