Celtics to trade Williams to Dallas
The Dallas Mavericks are acquiring Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics in a sign-and-trade deal that includes the San Antonio Spurs, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Wednesday night. Dallas is sending guard
Reggie Bullock to the Spurs and swapping 2030 draft picks with them, while the Mavericks and Celtics will receive multiple secondround picks, according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no trades can be finalized before Thursday.
Williams’ contract is for $54 million over four years.
The Mavericks made it clear they thought their roster needed work after missing the playoffs when the pairing of Luka Doncic and
Kyrie Irving faltered in the two months after the blockbuster deal that brought Irving from Brooklyn in February.
Irving and the Mavericks agreed on a $126-million, three-year contract that should become official when free-agent deals can be signed starting Thursday. Center Dwight Powell also is set to return.
The 6-foot-6 Williams will change the look of the Dallas frontcourt with the lanky, offense-minded Christian Wood not expected to return. The 24-year-old Williams averaged career highs of 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in his fourth season with the Celtics.
Dallas wants to rediscover the defensive mentality that helped fuel a run to the Western Conference finals in 2022. But it will have to be with a new set of key defensive pieces. The departure of Bullock comes after Dorian Finney-Smith went to the Nets in the Irving deal.
Bullock averaged 7.2 points for the Mavericks last season. The 3-and-D specialist shot 40% from threepoint range in the 2022 playoffs, making 2.9 per game before dropping to 1.9 at a 38% clip last season.
Bucks star’s surgery
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had surgery on his left knee this offseason, but the two-time most valuable player should be ready for training camp, new coach Adrian Griffin said.
“He had a routine surgery on his left knee, and it went great,” Griffin said after a practice with the Bucks’ summer league team. “Everything went as planned, and we expect him back and ready to go in training camp.”
It’s unclear whether the surgery will prevent Antetokounmpo from playing for Greece in the World Cup, which begins Aug. 25.
Antetokounmpo finished third in MVP balloting last season. He averaged a career-high 31.1 points with 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 63 games. Eleven of the games he missed last season were because of knee soreness.
Etc.
Max Christie scored 25 points in the Lakers’ 109-99 loss to San Antonio in the California Classic. The Lakers lost both games in Sacramento. ... The Lakers added a game in Anaheim to their preseason schedule, a 7 p.m. matchup against Sacramento at Honda Center on Oct. 11. ... Anthony Parker was promoted to general manager of the Orlando Magic.