Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Legendary Celtics announcer buries Hornets' Grant Williams

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 3/13/24

Grant Williams left the Boston Celtics this past summer after failing to agree terms on a contract extension. He was sent to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a sign-and-trade deal.

However, his tenure with Dallas quickly turned sour. He was then traded to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the package to acquire P.J. Washington at the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

According to legendary Celtics play-by-play announcer Mike Gorman, Williams' personality can grate on players, making him a poor locker-room presence.

"He was annoying," Gorman said on Tuesday's episode of 98.5 The Sports Hub. "He was annoying to everybody ... it kind of wore thin. It wore thin quickly in Dallas, obviously. ... He's not good enough to have teams say well, 'Despite that, we're gonna keep him here because he's a great player.' He's not. He's an extra ... if you're a bad locker room guy, and you're the eighth or ninth guy, you're not gonna be the eighth or ninth guy for long, because you're not gonna be on the team for long."

Williams was a core part of the Celtics rotation that made it to the 2022 NBA Finals. His versatility on the defensive end ensured he was seen as a valuable player off the Celtics bench.

He is also among the best corner three-point shooters in the league. However, his stock around the NBA has taken a significant dip this season.

Nevertheless, Williams' outspoken nature appears to have quickly ended his tenure on contending teams. He will now need to rebuild his reputation with the Hornets. Fortunately, he can establish himself as part of the team's young core and look to grow with the franchise.

Still, Williams needs to figure out how to manage his desire to be a leader. It's one thing to encourage your teammates. It's another to frustrate them and make your position untenable.

Given his size and skillset, Williams has all the tools to fill a similar role as P.J. Tucker. He will need to keep putting in the hours if he wants to reach that level and be seen as a winning player.

His value around the league is at an all-time low, but he has the talent and personality to bounce back.

Still, he needs to understand that he won't have unlimited chances to prove he's a good locker room guy. He's not a star, so his margin for error is slimmer than many imagine.

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