Grant Williams was almost traded to the Bucks instead of the Hornets
By Evan Sidery
Grant Williams was traded at February’s deadline from the Dallas Mavericks to the Charlotte Hornets, but he supposedly was close to being dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks instead.
Williams spoke more on his fit with the Hornets, as well as other topics, when appearing on an alternative TNT live broadcast in the players lounge during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks.
As Williams put it, he was very close to being traded to Milwaukee instead of a hometown reunion of sorts in Charlotte.
“We figured out wha team would look the best, and Charlotte was the best opportunity,” Williams said. “I think the only other team that probably would’ve been an option was Milwaukee, but the deal fell through.”
The deal Williams spoke of between Dallas and Milwaukee revolved around a swap with Bobby Portis. Instead of receiving P.J. Washington, who has now become a key cog in Dallas’ postseason rotation, they were an alternative path away from it being Portis instead.
Portis, who could become available on the trade market this summer as the Bucks mull over potential changes, told Shams Charania last month a deal centered around him for Williams didn’t sit right.
“When I got hints of it, I’m like, ain’t no way I’m getting traded for, excuse my French, this guy,” Portis said. “That’s my guy, but I shouldn’t get traded for Grant Williams. That don’t even sound right.”
In the end, it certainly worked out well for the rebuilding Hornets. Sending Washington to Dallas helped them net a top-two protected first-round selection from Dallas in 2027 alongside Williams.
Moving forward into the 2024-25 campaign, Williams will play a role in the Hornets’ hopeful rise up the Eastern Conference standings.
“We’re not gonna be no laughingstock no more,” Williams said of the Hornets. “We’re gonna be a team that competes, a team that plays hard. We’re gonna be a team that sticks together. That’s something we took pride in at the end of the season, and we’ll start off the rest of the year with LaMelo (Ball), Mark Williams and all our other pieces back. I think that’s gonna be really fun to play with.”
During his 29 games with the Hornets, Williams averaged a career-high 13.9 points per game while also dishing out 3.2 assists. Immediately, Williams’ presence was felt in the young Hornets’ locker room becoming a key team leader and voice to lean on.
Charlotte must continue to add veterans who can help on the court, but also off it. Williams has received rave reviews thus far, and his glue-guy mentality should only help accentuate their young core for next year and beyond.