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He got enough range to be our stretch 4:
Drafted by Larry Legend as the 17th overall pick in the 2006 draft. D'antoni says he might start:
Laker TimesShawne Williams came into the league in 2006 out of Memphis with tremendous promise as the 17th draft pick of the Indiana Pacers.
Seven years later, he's fighting to get back into the league after a number of drug-related incidents tarnished his reputation.
Williams was cut by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012 without playing a game, unsure he'd get another opportunity in the NBA.
"I'd be lying if I said I did," said Williams on Monday after practice with the Lakers. "I've been through so much. I've been to the bottom of the bottom. You've just got to keep your head down and get through it."
Fortunately for Williams, he still had a believer in Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni, who had the mercurial forward in New York with the Knicks in 2010-11.
"Sometimes he gets left out in the cold because he shouldn't have done what he did," said D'Antoni. "If you know his character, you know what you can get."
Williams was first arrested in 2007 on a marijuana charge. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to a separate, misdemeanor drug possession charge. In 2012, Williams was arrested in yet another drug incident.
D'Antoni liked the 6-foot-9 Williams as a mobile power forward with shooting range. He was willing to go to bat for Williams this summer.
"I knew that Shawne, if he gets focused, he can play," said D'Antoni. "He's got a huge amount of talent."
"You've got to know the guy's heart. He's got a good heart. He's very respectful," he continued. "Sometimes he's gets unfocused ... maybe in the wrong environment, but overall I know he's a good, good guy."
Williams, who signed a one-year deal with the Lakers at the minimum $916,099, has $100,000 of his contract guaranteed.
On Sunday, Williams started at power forward for the Lakers in a 97-88 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
"I've been a fan of his for a long time. I think he spreads the floor. He battles," said D'Antoni. "[He's] not a great rebounder. He's a very good three-point shooter, he's in the 40s. He doesn't put the ball on the floor, but I don't want him to. I just think he lets everybody around him play better."
Williams' spot in the starting lineup may not be a fluke -- D'Antoni is considering making that a regular role.
"That's possible," said the Lakers coach. "That's why we're going to do the next 30 days and players will tell me which way it should go."
D'Antoni is trying to decide whether he should go big with his starters, using a combination of Pau Gasol with either Chris Kaman or Jordan Hill -- or go with a mobile, stretch player at the four.
"[Williams] would be first in line right now," he said. "Hopefully we'll get Ryan Kelly back. He's another guy who can stretch the floor."
Did some research on him and see he's had run ins with 1-time:
And he likes to posterize D12-bas -kids:
I like rooting for dudes like this. He seems like he'll give 110% because he knows this is his last chance to stick in the league. He's played in MDA's system - so that's a plus. Will he be another one of MK's cheap reclamation projects like Ariza or Earl Clark? Stay tuned...
He got enough range to be our stretch 4:
Where da weed at?
Plan B incase Xavior, the Savior, Henry does not pan out.
laker fan just trying to polish turd at this point
Coke problem
Undersized yet athletic forwards who can run and gun can always flourish in MDA's system imho. may turn out to be a Earl Clark or Boris Diaw 2.0
20pts
9rebs
2stls
1swat
Eat mono!
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