Grant Williams revival keying hot stretch for Hornets

 What a difference two weeks and one big trade can make. 

The Charlotte Hornets have won four straight games since shipping P.J. Washington to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a draft pick on Feb. 8. They returned from the All-Star break with a 115-107 win at the Utah Jazz on Thursday. 

No one has seen their profile change more in that time than Williams, who the Mavericks inked to a four-year, $53 million contract after a sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics before the season. Williams was traded after he underperformed and rubbed teammates the wrong way in Dallas, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon during an appearance on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast. MacMahon added that Williams was also criticized for showing up out of shape to begin the season. 

Williams, a 6-foot-6 power forward, has been absolutely on fire since joining the Hornets. He scored 24 points in the win over the Jazz, including hitting 6-of-11 three-pointers. 

“(Charlotte) feels like home,” Williams said after Thursday’s win. “It’s just one of those things … you feel believed in, you feel loved … you’re just trying to do your best to help the team and help the city.”

Williams averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 47 games with the Mavericks. He’s averaged 18.8 points 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists since joining the Hornets, including his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a 122-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 14.