3 Reasons Hornets should target Grant Williams in free agency

If recent reports are to be believed, the Charlotte Hornets have a legitimate interest in acquiring Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics. Williams, 24, is a restricted free agent after being unable to agree terms for a contract extension last summer.

The Hornets could offer Williams the full Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, worth $12.4 million over multiple years, in order to try and prise him away from Boston. However, the Celtics would likely match that offer sheet to keep one of their core contributors with the franchise moving forward.

As such, Charlotte may need to clear some additional cap space if they truly wish to bring in one of the best young three-and-d forwards in the NBA. Sports Illustrated’s James Plowright recently shared some different routes the Hornets could take to open up additional cap space.

Of course, there is a chance that Boston’s recent acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis could change their stance on how much they’re willing to pay Williams. With Jordan Walsh also on the roster, Brad Stevens could decide to avoid adding to their tax bill and allow Williams to leave for a team that can offer him legitimate minutes. In truth, Boston is keeping their cards close to their chest, which makes gauging Williams’ market difficult.

If Mitch Kupchak and the Hornets’ front office feel like Williams is attainable, they should kick the tires on ways to bring him to Charlotte. Here are three reasons why Grant Williams would be a good addition to the Hornets roster.

#1 Williams’ would add perimeter scoring to the Hornets rotation

After struggling with his three-point shot upon entering the NBA, Williams has developed into a reliable catch-and-shoot threat from the perimeter – most specifically, from the corner three. According to Cleaning The Glass, Williams shot 43% from the corner last season, converting 54 of his 127 attempts.

Williams also shot 38% on non-corner three’s, knocking down 55 of 146 shots. Those shooting numbers have been reasonably steady over the past three seasons. Williams has developed into a reliable offensive weapon on the perimeter.

To begin the 2022-23 season, Williams also flashed improvements when driving close-outs, using his big frame to bully drive his way to the rim or to flow into a post-up before redirecting the rock one of Boston’s other scoring threats. Boston also showed some faith in Williams as a dribble-hand-off creator, utilizing his three-point threat to trick defenses into over-committing before having Williams initiate a hand-off or fake the hand-off and drive the lane for an easy bucket.

Given the Hornets’ perimeter struggles last season (where they finished last in offensive rating and 29th in three-point percentage) and their lack of secondary and tertiary shot creation, Williams’ presence within the rotation would alleviate some of the team’s most significant offensive issues.