The Dallas Mavericks have had an active offseason, revamping most of their squad by adding younger and more athletic rotational pieces, headlined by the sign-and-trade for Grant Williams.

Williams spoke to ClutchPoints about his upcoming move to the Mavericks, citing the franchise’s culture and the opportunity to emerge as their primary defensive option.

“One of the reasons I chose Dallas is because of the culture and the opportunity to win. They were just a few pieces away from being a real threat this past season, and they were in need and looking to add someone like me who can do a lot of little things to impact winning. I want to make sure we go from being a bottom-tier defensive team to being one of the best in the league this upcoming year.”

Williams averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds last season and often found himself lost in the dearth of options the Celtics had. With this move, Williams can now feasibly be the third star on the Mavs behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. He should start the season as their starting power forward and be integral to their defensive setup.

Will Grant Williams Move The Needle For Dallas?

Grant Williams isn’t the marquee addition most would have liked to see the Mavericks make. But for what Dallas needs, there were no better options. His perimeter versatility and ability to play small-ball center make him the most versatile frontcourt piece the Mavs have on the roster. Jason Kidd loves playing defenders, so Williams has a strong chance to ingratiate himself with Kidd through his on-court hustle.

Dallas haven’t taken a massive step forward this summer with the moves they’ve made but they look considerably stronger now than they did at the end of the regular season. They have six players under the age of 25 on the roster, eking out a nice young core that they hope develops quickly enough for the Mavs to return to contention before Doncic starts looking elsewhere for a better contending situation.