26-27 Warriors Sign Former Mavericks 26-Year-Old Guard
The Golden State Warriors have reached their 14-player minimum by signing 26-year-old guard Brandon Williams. The former Portland Trail Blazers rookie has spent the last three years as a member of the Dallas Mavericks organization and is coming off a fourth-year leap. Following a disappointing year, the Warriors use another roster spot towards their guard department, and have added another ball handler alongside Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski. As far as finances go, the new contract of the Arizona alumnus will keep Golden State below the second apron, as it is for just one year and $2.6 million. This brings the team’s overall salary to about $252 million, which is just below the threshold that would force the Warriors to pay a bigger luxury tax.
Last season, Williams’ minutes played jumped from 14.8 to 22.2, showing signs of trust by head coach Jason Kidd. With that extended time, he improved every major statistical category, going from 8.3 to 13.0 points per game and from 2.3 to 3.9 assists per game. Now entering his fifth year, the six-foot-one veteran provides a force inside. Williams is not afraid of contact and can finish well around the rim, but he’s not just a one-dimensional player. He always has eyes on the rest of the court and looks for open teammates following a pick-and-roll. Though he didn’t get drafted in 2021, his development on the NBA courts is evident by his steady progression year after year.
Head coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the organization will be thrilled with this addition. As the roster is currently constructed, Golden State does not have anyone with a similar profile to Williams. De’Anthony Melton is probably the closest comparison, but the nine-year vet is arguably a more dangerous perimeter threat, though not as good of a ball-handler. Williams brings activity on both sides of the ball, and his energy can feed off into others. He’s a tough and hard-nosed athlete who can generate offense for either himself or his teammates. Expect to see him quickly established into this Warriors rotation, especially when Curry needs a rest, and for him to potentially lead this groups’s second unit.
