The Memphis Grizzlies pulled their trigger back in July, sending Ziaire Williams and a 2030 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Mamadi Diakite and the draft rights to Nemanja Dangubic.
It marked the end of a run for Williams wearing the Grizzlies gear in the past three seasons. As the team's No. 10 pick of the 2021 Draft who seized hype as a promising wingman from Stanford, he ultimately failed to live up to the expectations in the eyes of both the franchise and its fanbase. He struggled from injuries and inconsistencies, and couldn't significantly elevate the 8.1 points he averaged during his 2021-22 rookie season.
Despite how disappointing circumstances have ended for him, Ziaire will remain grateful to the Grizzlies franchise for giving him a chance to showcase what he can do on the court.
Thankful to Memphis
Although things never worked out around his partnership with Memphis, Williams still always has a fond regard for the team after embracing him to their culture and program.
In a recent interview with HoopsHype's Cyro Asseo de Choch, Ziaire confessed his genuine thoughts about leaving the franchise, admitting that he isn't holding any grudges about how the Grizzlies cut their ties with him.
“It didn’t catch me off guard,” he said of the trade. “The GM [Zach Kleiman] was kind of letting me know a little bit, just so I wouldn’t be completely shocked. But when it happens, it’s always like, “Damn, it’s real now.” Like I said, man, I’m happy for the opportunity, and I’m grateful for what I experienced in Memphis, and I’m just looking forward to this next chapter in my life.
In due for a contract extension, Memphis opted to use Williams for salary dump purposes. As the trade materialized, it allowed the Grizzlies to use their much bigger cap space to retain sharpshooting guard Luke Kennard on a reported one-year, $11MM deal.
A fresh start awaits in Brooklyn
Now, in a new situation, Ziaire has a chance to take redirection without such pressure as a member of the Nets. As the team is about to officially enter a full-scale rebuild starting this 2024-25 season, he can prove that he deserves to be a part of their desired future. In hindsight, being shipped out by the Grizzlies offered Williams a blessing in disguise, which could help him improve and possibly meet his potential for years to come. And at age 22, he still has a chance to carve out plenty of roles and opportunities for himself.
Even though he's no longer a member of the team anymore, the Grizzlies will always root and hope for the best for Ziaire in the next endeavors of his young career.
Related: Grizzlies icon Zach Randolph to be inducted into Memphis Sports Hall of Fame
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