Nets acquire forward Ziaire Williams from Grizzlies
Ziaire Williams. Credit: Getty Images
LAS VEGAS — The Nets made their third trade this offseason, acquiring forward Ziaire Williams and a 2030 second-round pick from the Grizzlies for Mamadi Diakite, the team announced Friday afternoon.
Diakite was acquired in the trade that sent Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. The Grizzlies also will get the draft rights to Nemanja Dangubic acquired by the Nets in a 2019 trade. Dangubic was drafted in 2014 by the 76ers but remained overseas and never played in the NBA.
Williams was the No. 10 overall pick in 2021 and is in the final year of his rookie contract. The 22-year-old averaged 8.1 points his first season but struggled to build on that the next two seasons, partly because of injuries. He averaged 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 51 games last season, including 15 starts. In three years, he has averaged 7.5 points and 2.6 rebounds and has shot 42.6% from the field.
The trade essentially flipped two expiring contracts and added another draft pick to the Nets’ stash.
Diakite’s $2.27 million contract won’t be fully guaranteed until Jan. 10 and the Knicks agreed to pay $1.23 million of it.
Williams is owed $6.1 million next season and gets a fresh start on a rebuilding Nets team.
Per Capsheets, the Nets are $4.3 million under the luxury tax with one roster spot remaining.
— Evan Barnes
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
