Nets acquire Ziaire Williams from Grizzlies
Brooklyn is trading big man Mamadi Diakite to the Memphis Grizzlies for forward Ziaire Williams and a second-round pick in 2030, the Nets announced Friday.
The Grizzlies will also receive the draft rights to Serbian guard Nemanja Dangubic, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Dangubic was the 54th selection in the 2014 NBA Draft and has yet to play in the Association.
Williams, 22, was the 10th pick in the 2021 draft and has struggled to secure a spot in Memphis' rotation since entering the league three seasons ago. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in his 150 career contests with the Grizzlies. He failed to find his shooting touch, though, knocking down just 42.6% of his field goals and only 30.1% of his threes.
The emergence of 19-year-old scoring forward GG Jackson II last season made Williams surplus to requirements in Memphis.
Williams is in the final year of his rookie deal and is extension-eligible. The trade puts Memphis roughly $14 million below the first tax apron, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
Diakite has only appeared in 55 NBA games since going undrafted out of Virginia in 2020. The 6-foot-9 center has averaged 3.1 points and 2.3 rebounds over that span.