There were not many bright spots after February 1st last season, but Brandon Williams was one of them. The Mavericks needed warm bodies and some sort of hope, and Williams provided both. He looked fantastic
in his limited action. From March 5 to April 11, Williams put up 16.7 points and 4.4 assists on 56.2 percent shooting. He was not just a fun fill-in; he played well enough to earn his spot on this season’s roster.
His sample size, even for his entire career, is still very small (74 games). What is real and what is not will surely be sifted out in the fight to be the team’s lead guard. For the Mavericks’ sake, I hope what we watched in the waning moments of last season is what Williams will be going forward.
Big Question
When Williams was converted to a full contract, he was the only (healthy) point guard under contract. Since then, Dallas has signed D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Smith Jr., Dante Exum, and drafted Ryan Nembhard. The “offensive initiator” role is truly a committee right now, as they have Cooper Flagg initiating some sets and their big men taking turns as a pivot at the top of the key. Williams is currently hurt and missing valuable reps in preseason basketball, so it will be an uphill battle when he gets back. But given his experience from last year in this offense, the most glaring question mark for Williams this year is simple: will he be able to carry over his success into a prominent role for the Mavericks?
Best Case Scenario
The ideal scenario for Williams is this: he gets healthy, picks up where he left off last season, and establishes himself as the lead guard on the team. His playmaking stands out, his scoring is efficient, and he provides a fluidity and spark that the other guards do not. In reality, his best-case scenario is him establishing himself as a legitimate NBA player and possible starter, rather than fun two-way as he was to start his career. Williams is still just 25 with less than a full season of games under his belt, so looking competent repeatedly is the best thing he can do.
Worst Case Scenario
On the flip side, Williams could just be too inconsistent to matter. It is relatively easy to play well like he did at the end of last season when there is no pressure. The other good stretch in his career came in his rookie season on a Portland team that won 27 games. Unfortunately, he may not be able to sustain his play in multiple games that matter. It is also hard to ignore that he is dealing with a hamstring issue currently, a type of injury that does not go away without significant rest and one that can be re-injured very easily. Whether it is regression, injuries, or both, Williams could have a season that sees him at the end of the bench.
Season goal
The Mavericks are starving for good guard play. It remains to be seen what D’Angelo Russell brings, but Dallas desperately needs stability and ball-handling in the backcourt. Williams should have “being the team’s rock” at the top of his agenda. He is a naturally gifted scorer and has flashed his playmaking here and there. But the thing that will separate him this season is whether he can set up the offense, control the pace, and facilitate, night in and night out.
Overall
Williams is one of my favorite guys on the team. He is easy to root for, fun to watch, and truly talented offensively. Whether he wins the starting job or not, his minutes are going to be fun. In terms of wow factor, he has the highest rating of any guard Dallas has, except maybe Smith Jr. There will be nights where we are calling for Williams to take Russell’s minutes and nights where Williams needs to be taken off the floor. If his production last year was a mirage, it will come to light quickly. If it wasn’t, the Mavericks will greatly benefit from his services.
