Brandon Williams Signs Multi-Year Deal, Set to Return for Mavericks Against Raptors
The Dallas Mavericks announced Wednesday that they have signed guard Brandon Williams to a multi-year standard NBA contract. This move secures his place in the postseason roster amid continued backcourt uncertainty.
Williams, who had reached the 50-game limit on his two-way deal, becomes eligible to play in the play-in tournament. His signing comes at a crucial time for the Mavericks, who have three guards — Spencer Dinwiddie (right knee soreness), Danté Exum (left hand surgery), and Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) — listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
With Kyrie Irving out for the season due to a torn ACL and Dinwiddie recently left as the only active ball handler, Williams’ availability provides much-needed depth down the stretch. The Mavericks have operated short-handed for weeks due to hard-cap constraints that previously prevented a roster addition.
“He’s been great,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Tuesday. “He’s done everything we’ve asked.”
Brandon Williams Has Stepped Up Significantly
The 24-year-old guard is averaging 8.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 14.8 minutes across 31 games this season, shooting 51.1% from the field, 37.9% from three-point range, and 85.7% from the foul line. Since the All-Star break, he has posted averages of 15.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 53.6% from the floor and 89.1% at the line.
Williams delivered a career-high 31 points along with five rebounds and six assists against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 7, becoming just the second reserve in Mavericks history to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game. His 31 points also tied for the third-most by a two-way player in league history.
“I’ve known [Brandon Williams] for a while, so I definitely feel like he’s going to get his opportunity when it’s time for him,” Grizzlies guard Ja Morant told Sportskeeda after that performance. “He’s just got to continue to keep working and keep producing how he did tonight with guys out for them. This is the opportunity you get, and it can go a long way.”
Originally undrafted out of Arizona in 2021, Williams began his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers before playing in the G League. He signed a two-way deal with Dallas on Dec. 28, 2023, and re-signed last summer. He also appeared in two games for the Texas Legends this season, averaging 30.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists.
Former Mavericks two-way guard Jazian Gortman, who spent training camp with the team and later shared a two-way contract window with Williams, offered his perspective on Williams’ rise.
“I think the biggest thing with B-Will is just seeing how much he’s gotten better,” Gortman told RG. “You could break it down and talk about all the things he’s getting better at, but honestly, the first time I saw B-Will—this was three or four years ago—I already thought he was unstoppable. So now to see a player like that continue to get better, it just tells me he’s putting in the work.”
Dallas Mavericks’ Current Outlook
The Mavericks (38–42) have secured the 10th seed in the Western Conference and will host the Raptors on Friday before closing the regular season against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Exum was in uniform for Wednesday’s game against the Lakers — his first since suffering a fractured left hand — but did not play.
“He had a good workout this evening,” Kidd said postgame. “We’ll see if he can take the court. Hopefully, this is a sign of good things to come. He wants to play. To be able to come back a week early is good and much-needed for us.”
Other notable players on the latest injury report include Klay Thompson (left foot sprain), Anthony Davis (probable, left adductor strain), and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (out, right wrist surgery). Kai Jones and Kessler Edwards remain unavailable while on two-way contracts.
Williams is expected to be available immediately.
