The Dallas Maverick’s interest in signing restricted Boston Celtics free agent Grant Williams “remains high” according to The Athletic’s Tim Cato, but the Celtics’ “threatening to match a full midlevel exception offer sheet puts Dallas in a situation where the team must either call Boston’s bluff or work with them to provide something to ensure Williams comes to Dallas.”
Boston is reportedly looking for a first round draft pick to let Williams go without matching a deal, likely too steep of an ask for most teams, and few seem willing — at least with other potential trades gumming up the market — to call Boston’s bluff and tie up some of their cap sheet in ways that could cause them to miss out on other, perhaps easier-to-get options.
“Williams’ camp wants a larger contract than the full midlevel exception,” adds Cato, which would be another issue complicating any sign-and-trade deal.
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At present, the Charlotte Hornets — who have also expressed interest in a Williams signing — and the San Antonio Spurs (who have not) still loom as potential threats to sign the Charlotte native.
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