Grant Williams has plenty of reasons to be happy about when it comes to playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Not only is he getting a bigger role with the team, but he'll also have a chance to thrive alongside Luka Doncic and help him grow as a player.

Williams himself recently shared his excitement to pair up alongside Luka, noting that the Slovenian star just makes everything easier with his sensational scoring, passing and basketball IQ. The former Boston Celtics wing also expressed his belief that Doncic has an opportunity to really take that next step in his evolution as a basketball player, in which the superstar guard can “empower” the rest of his teammates.

“With Luka he does a great job of, no matter when you feel like you’re open he’s gonna find you. Very end of the shot clock, he’ll hit you with a pass that’s a dime and gives you an open look. So I’m excited just because he brings so much pressure and attention to himself, and he does a good job of getting others involved,” Williams said on JJ Redick's The Old Man & The Three Podcast, via Dallas Morning News.

“And I think that's his growth and his next step, understanding that as much as that happens he also has to empower others to play their games as well. So I think that's the next stage with him and this group that we have.”

Indeed, exciting times are ahead for the Mavs. Considering the group that they have built around Luka Doncic in the offseason, it's not hard to see Grant Williams' point as well.

In 2022-23 prior to the Kyrie Irving trade, Doncic was a one-man show in Dallas as he was singlehandedly carrying the team to wins. While they struggled when Irving arrived after losing some key defensive pieces, the potential of the team–especially on offense–was still clear.

“So I'm excited for the spacing, being able to knock down shots around him, but also being able to crash and create more opportunities. I think a difference between guys we have in Dallas versus guys we had in Boston, we have a bunch of guys around that are like, utility, they can do it all,” Williams added.

“Like Tim [Hardaway Jr.] can score, Josh Green, guys like that who are like, aggressive downhill and can make plays at the rim and rebound. Dwight Powell, he's more like a crash course dummy that’s just gonna run in there and smack the ball out to halfcourt every two seconds. So really, it’s just exciting because it’s a different group, it’s a different team to play with.”

The 2023-24 season should be different though, especially with the Mavs adding several key pieces that address  some of their biggest concerns from the previous campaign. Doncic will no longer have to do it all himself to lead Dallas since he has Irving, Williams and the rest of the team to support him.

Mavs' 2023 offseason

It has been quite the massive offseason for the Mavs as they have completely retooled their supporting cast around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in a bid to return to playoff contention and potentially contend for the title.

During the 2023 NBA Draft, Dallas got things rolling when they landed big man Dereck Lively II with the 12th overall pick–all while dumping Davis Bertans' contract and getting a TPE (traded player exception) in the process. They then used that TPE to acquire Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings, as well as the 24th pick in the draft to select defense-first wing Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

Then come free agency, the Mavs made it a priority to keep Irving on a three-year, $126 million deal. It was a symbolic move for the franchise that signifies their commitment to building a contender around Doncic. After Dallas failed to make it to the 2023 postseason, there were reports that Luka could leave or ask a move away if they can't still build a title contender. By keeping Kyrie, the team showed their young superstar that they are serious in winning.

Dallas also added Seth Curry to improve their shooting before bringing in Grant Williams through a sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics. Furthermore, the team re-signed Dwight Powell and added Dante Exum to give them more guard depth.

It's also worth noting that the Mavs are said to be not done yet when it comes to improving the roster. The team is still looking to add a starting-caliber center via trade–with Clint Capela being heavily linked with the franchise–though if nothing pans out in that regard, they are said to be already confident with what they have built so far.

Whatever the case may be, the Mavs' future is definitely looking bright.