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Mavs Trade Idea: Should Dallas Try Swapping Grant Williams for P.J. Washington?

DALLAS – During the Dallas Mavericks’ first 10 games of the season, Grant Williams, who was brought over from the Boston Celtics in a sign-and-trade over the summer, looked like he was primed to be one of the biggest steals of the offseason. During that span, as the Mavs opened with an 8-2 record, Williams was averaging 11.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 28.8 minutes while shooting 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep as well.

Obviously, nobody expected that kind of hot 3-point shooting to be sustainable, but Williams must be better that he has been lately to live up to the four-year, $52 million he received in July. Over his last 15 games, the fifth-year forward is averaging 6.9 points while shooting 34.9 percent from the field and 28.6 percent on nearly five attempts from beyond the arc per game. Overall, Williams is still somehow shooting 38.2 percent from deep despite his recent downward trajectory.

Another fifth-year forward who hasn’t lived up to expectations this season after signing a new contract is Charlotte Hornets’ P.J. Washington. In 25 games, he’s started in 13 of them, and is averaging 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 42.5 percent overall and a career-worst 31.3 percent from deep. Washington signed a three-year, $46 million deal with Charlotte over the summer.

Given that the Hornets were one of the teams reportedly considering giving an offer sheet to Williams in restricted free agency, could Dallas and Charlotte potentially do each other a solid by swapping the two forwards before this season’s trade deadline? Despite Washington making $4 million more per season than Williams, a straight-up swap would still work if both sides agreed to it.

On one hand, the Mavs wouldn’t have given Williams the contract they did if they didn’t believe in what he could be. He is capable of playing better than what he’s shown so far, and there’s still a chance he can turn it around as this season progresses. On the other hand, if his skid continues into the new year, the Mavs might start to wonder if it’s really just a cold streak or just a harsh reality.