Hornets reserve ahead Grant Williams tore his ACL, meniscus and different linked ligaments in his proper knee throughout his staff’s 125-119 loss to the Bucks on Saturday night time, sources inform Shams Charania of ESPN. He’ll now miss the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA season.
The 25-year-old was within the midst of a productive second season in Charlotte. Throughout his 16 wholesome video games this yr whereas enjoying behind starters Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges, Williams averaged 10.4 factors on .439/.365/.838 capturing splits. He additionally logged 5.1 rebounds and a pair of.3 assists an evening.
The Tennessee alum was initially chosen by the Celtics with the No. 22 total choose within the 2019 draft. He had some memorable moments with Boston, however was tormented by capturing inconsistency within the postseason. A bit undersized for his defensive assignments at 6’6″, Williams finally moved on to the Mavericks as a restricted free agent in the summertime of 2023. He inked a four-year, $53.3M deal as a part of a three-team sign-and-trade.
That experiment lasted simply 47 video games earlier than he was traded once more. As a part of a transformative 2023-24 midseason deal, Williams was shipped out, together with guard Seth Curry and a future first-round draft choose, to the Hornets in alternate for P.J. Washington. With Washington in tow, the Mavericks marched all the best way to the NBA Finals.
Charlotte at the moment has all 15 customary roster spots occupied. As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes, the staff would want to waive a participant, however afterwards it might be capable to file for a disabled participant exception price half Williams’ wage, or $6.5M, and signal somebody into that.
At 6-10, the Hornets are at the moment the No. 11 seed within the Jap Convention, tied by document with the Nets and Pacers. Dropping Williams is a significant blow to their bench depth.
