Grant Williams has rapidly rebuilt his value with the Hornets

Grant Williams' short-lived tenure with the Dallas Mavericks was a disaster. 

The fourth-year forward joined the team after four seasons with the Boston Celtics, where he established himself as one of the best young three-and-D forwards in the NBA. 

But Williams' fit with Dallas was clunky. At the trade deadline, he was shipped to the Charlotte Hornets, and P.J. Washington was headed to the Mavericks as part of the deal.

When Charlotte added Williams, his stock around the league had taken a significant hit. However, a strong showing in the following 29 games quickly put his career back on track. He averaged 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists for his hometown team. He shot 60.5% from two-point range and 37.3% from the perimeter. 

In a recent ESPN article, Bobby Marks cited Williams as an intriguing piece in the Hornets' rebuild. His playoff experience and modern skillset make him a valuable part of the Hornets' roster. Nevertheless, he could become a sought-after trade chip.

"Williams has three years and $41 million left on his contract, and he has value with the Hornets and teams that are looking for a stretch 4 (hello, Philadelphia 76ers)," Marks wrote.

Charles Lee may view Williams as a potential leader for his rebuilding roster. Entering his fifth NBA season, the Tennessee product has significant postseason experience, even making it to the NBA Finals with the Celtics in 2022. At 25 years old, Williams can still improve while providing a respectable voice in the locker room. 

Furthermore, Williams has previously spoken about how playing for the Hornets is a dream due to growing up in the city and being a fan. 

“It’s a blessing to be home and be surrounded by friends, family and people you love,” Williams told Langston Wertz Jr. of the Charlotte Observer on May 17. “As you know, Charlotte sports in the past four or five years haven’t necessarily performed the way people have wanted. So if you can be a part of that group that builds it out and makes its consistent, that’s all I want to do. That’s a dream for a Charlotte kid.”

If Williams continues to perform at the level he displayed after joining Charlotte in February, he will undoubtedly draw interest from contending teams around the league. A tough few months in Dallas certainly hindered his reputation. Accepting a leadership role while also producing on the floor for Charlotte will quickly resign his spell with the Mavericks to a distant memory. 

When they acquired Williams, Charlotte was buying low on a high-character forward with a proven track record in the league. Now, they're starting to reap the rewards for trusting that his stint in Dallas was simply a bad fit. Williams would be smart to stay where he is, regardless of what teams come knocking around the trade deadline.