Draft Prospect: Elli0t Williams

[Bruno]

Height: 6-4
Weight: 180 lbs
Birthday: 06/20/1989
College: Memphis

DraftExpress
nbadraft

Guess why I didn't type his full first name.

[mountainballer]

different estimations about Williams entering the draft or go back to school.
DX and nbadraft.net have him in 2011, but I think there is a good chance he decides to enter this years draft.
that's why:
Memphis has been recruiting big time this year. they bring in the countries top SG prospect (Barton) and one of the top PG prospects (Jackson) plus another high potential SG (Kendrick). very unlikely that Williams will get as many touches as this season and worst case he is outplayed by Barton and/or Jackson. if this happens his numbers will go down significantly.

and the other reason is the lack of 1st round SGs in this class. Williams would likely be the #3 SG behind Turner and Henry and likely ranked higher than Anderson, Warren and Bradley. so he should be a sure fire 1st round pick.

if he joins the draft, he likely will be available at #19-22.

what do you guys think? Williams does have tons of potential, on offense as well as on defense. he has the skill set to once grow into Manu's role.
Williams could become a NBA player somewhere between Jamal Crawford and Rudy Fernandez.
(sure, also a lot of bust potential there and he becomes the next Quincy Douby.)

[5in10]

love him as a spurs prospect. Athletic, has a decent jumper that can be altered to make it better and is a lefty. im all for him.

[Dex]

Go Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Lu ck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_!

[jjktkk]

I would take a flyer on him with a 2nd rounder. Ideally thought, I would like the Spurs draft a similar player, but a guy with more size.

[exstatic]

I would take a flyer on him with a 2nd rounder. Ideally thought, I would like the Spurs draft a similar player, but a guy with more size.

He won't be available in the second round, and if you want a player with his given skill set and bigger size, you probably have to move up 2-3 draft spots from Williams projected 19-22 spot for every inch taller that you want him.

[Bruno]

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/...orylines-3472/

Elli0t Williams is not in Chicago at all after suffering a minor knee injury this week. His coach at Memphis, Josh Pastner, told us via text that “he is OK” and that the injury is “nothing serious.”

Williams’ agent, Thad Foucher told us that ""Elli0t banged knees with another player in a workout in San Antonio and stayed in L.A. to rehab. It’s nothing too serious and he should be back in action by the end of the month."

[Blackjack]

Brun0 with the loophole FTW!

[The Truth #6]

Smmmoooottthhh.

It does sound like some sort of CIA agreement...or it's just a knee injury.

[SpursTillTheEnd]

that dude thats guarding him from oakland #1 hes a beast

[Mr. Body]

We're totally taking this guy. 'Bumping knees' is another Nicholas Batum special.

[Thompson]

He's not in the draft combine measurements. I hope if we do take him he's taller/longer than currently thought.

[mountainballer]

from todays podcast with Jonathan Givony:

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jon...an-Wolken-3489
-The buzz around E_liot Williams and whether he has a promise from the San Antonio Spurs

he says that there are talks that Williams might have a promise from Spurs and that this was the reason why he got "injured" in the workout in SA. also mentions that some teams that clearly have picks in his expected area (like Grizzlies) find out it's difficult to get something scheduled with him at all. for a borderline 1st rounder this is pretty remarkable.

the fact that he didn't show up in Chicago makes him even more of a dark horse. could the Spurs think that he is a premium talent, but under the radar? why not. one thing can be said about him for sure: this kid has as complete a skill set like any player in this draft outside Evan Turner.
if the Spurs main criteria is, how does a player fit with George Hill to create the Spurs back court of the next decade, Williams might in fact be the answer.

[Bruno]

It seems weird that Spurs promises a quite high pick to a player like Williams. I don't buy it.

Maybe his knee injury is worse than reported and that is the reason why teams have a hard time to get him in a workout.

[mountainballer]

on the other hand: we know Pop/RC don't really care if the pick is to "high" by mainstream opinion, if they want a player (see Ian, see Hill)
I can see what they might like about Williams. (even if he doesn't exactly fill an area of urgent need). he is in many regards a 6-4 (maybe 6-5) version of George Hill and his game has also some similarities to a young Manu. there isn't much he can't do. (except maybe defend the big guards from the 220+lbs department). if they think he can also run a team offense on the NBA level (run it better than Hill can), he will become even more intriguing.

[Bruno]

I don't doubt that it's possible that Spurs really like him. What I doubt is that they've made him a promise with the 20th pick more than one month before the draft and while risks he is drafted before Spurs' pick seem low.

To me, odds that his injury is legit are way higher than it's some sort of CIA move to hide him from other teams. Spurs have done a lot of tricky things in the past but sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one.

[mountainballer]

To me, odds that his injury is legit are way higher than it's some sort of CIA move to hide him from other teams. Spurs have done a lot of tricky things in the past but sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one.

90% that you are right.
(still 10% to fill a board with some speculations)
but one thing can be assumed....this guy isn't injured.
(otherwise he is a twitter maniac with a false iden y)
http://twitter.com/ewill901

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news.../tough-choice/
Williams raised eyebrows when he suddenly withdrew from the draft combine last week in Chicago with what his camp has called a minor knee injury. Some NBA executives wondered why Williams didn't at least attend to be measured and interviewed.

There, too, was speculation that Williams simply might have received a guarantee from one team. Either way, Memphis coach Josh Pastner contends Williams made an intelligent decision to leave school after his sop re season.

"From all of the information we've gathered he's going to be a first-round pick," said Pastner, who confirmed that Williams banged knees with another player during a workout with the San Antonio Spurs and is not seriously injured. "His character and everything else is a plus. Plus, teams love his athleticism."

Williams continues to work out in Los Angeles, where he's been preparing for the draft. Friday afternoon while the NBA's draft combine was in full swing for a second day, Williams used his Twitter account to confirm his relative health.

"Finished working out.. Get @ me Twitter fam."

Williams' agent, Thad Foucher told DraftExpress.com that his client "should be back in action by the end of the month."

today:
good morning.... no workouts today but i still may get some shots up.. get @ me twitter fam!!!!!

Saturday:
Good morning Twitter... About to eat some breakfast then get ready for this first wrkout.... Get @ me

Friday:
o world! getting ready for this early morning workout......

Thursday:
just finished my work out... watching jeepers creepers on syfy!!!! lol

Wednesday:
just finished my last workout.... listening to the Carter 2.. love the old wayne

Tuesday:
Just finished getting some shots up... At California pizza watching the game! Who you all think will pull out with the win?????

Saturday 22nd
up here in la working out.. U still in Durham?

Friday 21st
Finished working out.. Get @ me Twitter fam

[Bruno]

Interesting.
We will see if he will again work out with teams before the draft. If there isn't a single report of a workout, the theory that a team has made him a promise before the Chicago combine will have some serious legs.

[Blackjack]

if the Spurs main criteria is, how does a player fit with George Hill to create the Spurs back court of the next decade, Williams might in fact be the answer.

This is what I've been alluding to when I've mentioned the thought of looking for a Triangle-like backcourt or an Eric Snow for Hill. There's little question that George is a big part of their future and that they're going to have to find the best way to utilize him to get the most out of him. Having another playmaker in the backcourt with enough size to consistently guard the two or share defensive responsibilities would be absolutely ideal; having it be with a younger player that he can grow with could be more than ideal.

I agree with Bruno that a promise this early and for a guy that should be available later than 20 doesn't seem to make much sense. But if the Spurs have targeted him, maybe they believe they can get another asset by trading down and selecting Williams?

There's definitely some smoke, as mountainballer astutely points out, but it's just too early to tell. This team has just forced me to always be on guard and expect that they're putting up a smokescreen before revealing their hand. They could very well just be planting a seed in hopes of getting someone else to bite on him early so that their real target might actually fall to them.

Edit: And if it is Williams, I hope his #15 is available.

[The Truth #6]

Blackjack,

I like your idea of the Spurs creating interest in him to get other teams to bite. Seems devious, but if they're worried about someone they want getting snagged a few spots before them then it makes an interesting theory.

Perhaps the Batum incident has inspired them to employ all smoke screens possible.

But in the end...who really knows.

Given that most people assume we need a SF for our first priority, based on past experiences of being surprised, I'm expecting us to do something unexpected and draft for another position, such as SG. With Parker potentially creating trade offers, who we draft might not be as surprising when seen as part of some other grand plan that will only make sense later.

Anyway, interestintg to speculate.

And as someone else pointed out a while back, Twitter is something that gives us bizarre insights into players' movements and actions. It's a PR monkey wrench.

[Blackjack]

Twitter really has changed the world of sports. It's been a godsend to fans.

[TD 21]

I could see it. Supposedly good character, explosive athlete, strong on ball defender, defensive potential in general and off the radar as far as the 20th pick goes. Not a good shooter, but his stroke supposedly looks good. Not a PG, but he can handle the ball some and make plays. He sounds a lot like Hill. The Spurs probably think that they can work with him to become a good shooter and to play some PG.

It may or may not mean anything, but if he's drafted, it will give credence to the notion that the Spurs are going to trade Parker. With Ginobili, Hill, Williams, De Colo and possibly Temple, all in the pipeline at guard, I won't say they'd loaded, but they'd be well stocked going forward.

As much as many of us say the Spurs need an SF, I could see them viewing Hairston as more of an SF than an SG. Udoka played SF, as did Bogans, at least down the stretch and they're both a similar build to Hairston. Granted, they aren't the athlete that Hairston is, but their ball skills or lack thereof are similar. In addition to him, Gee is more SF than SG and they could easily sign an SF for the vet minimum. So, maybe for this season at least, they look at it like SF is not that pressing a need, though you'd think they'd want to start grooming a long term successor for the position.

Maybe they just assume that George and Babbitt won't be available at 20 and they're not all that enamored with the alternative options at SF. Or it could just be a smokescreen like Blackjack says, or flat out misinformation, which there's no shortage of at this time of year.

[The Truth #6]

I thought Hill said the Spurs told him they would draft him?

[The Truth #6]

Thinking about it some more I can see the logic that a SG is a pressing need. RJ isn't great but he's very durable and there's no way he's opting out and quite possibly no one will want to trade for him. So the Spurs ride out his contract, wear him into dust, hope he improves, and wait for a SF the next year.

Also, the one player needing the most rest is actually Manu. And if we get a solid SG now then we can rest Manu for the playoffs. Not sure if this has been stated already but it's a theory and I'm sticking to it. Ha.

[Thompson]

Hey everyone! I have something to REPEAT for the third time. Teams don't promise picks! At all!!

You're right, that does make the Spurs' promise to Williams even more intriguing...