General 2012 Free Agency Discussion

[pad300]

It's shocking to say since he was just the second overall selection last season but everything I've seen of Williams since the draft has been ugly. He's like Michael Beasley but fatter and whinier. The only thing that keeps his stock high is his draft position.

A fat, whiny tweener who can't really shoot and isn't that athletic is difficult to imagine as anything more than a low efficiency chucker, tbh.

That said, his stats were so good at Arizona that I'd still give up something like Blair and a first rounder on him. I think.

Your observations match real well with what Hoopsanalyst.com had to say

Derrick Williams, Arizona: Terrific offensive season. The most amazing stat was that he hit 57% on 74 3-point attempts. Guards don’t even shoot this well. There are just a few players who top 50% every year. Derrick Williams was simply the best 3-point shooter in the nation last year. He fell just short of qualifying for the record, I’m guessing because a player needs to have at least 2 attempts per game to qualify. This isn’t a bad skill to have at all, but it doesn’t tell me he can play either forward position.

The problem with Williams is I’m not sure where he’ll fit. As a PF his defense is very weak, with a 2.2 combined steals and blocks per 40 minutes. His .600 on 2-pointers is good, but the best PFs have been well over that, so it isn’t like he translates to becoming a dominant inside scorer. The same could be said about his rebounding: decent, but hardly dominating. That he’s smallish for a PF isn’t going to help either. As a SF, he has that low ASB40 and has never shown much of an inclination to pass the ball. Those are two very bad signs for long-term NBA success. He just isn’t a good fit at either forward position. That makes him a role player at best and a real reach in the top five of any draft, even one as weak as this.

I might move Blair for him, but I certainly wouldn't include a first. Heck, I'd be hesitant about just Blair; Blair has shown the ability to be productive inside his limits.

[TD 21]

I always thought he'd be a bust. Basically, he looked like the second coming of Beasley, only without the off court problems. Considering he's not a natural at either position forward position, I don't see him as a starter on a good team. Best case scenario is, he becomes one of the best off the bench front court scorers in the league, in the mold of Harrington, only with more athleticism. But for Blair and a 1st, I'd do that without even thinking about it. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves wouldn't.

Kahn would look even more stupid than usual by giving up on him so soon, especially after he just gave away a former 4th overall pick (granted, he's an even bigger bust, but still) and a future 1st, just to sign a 31 year old -- who's in decline and not a primary scoring option -- for $10M annually, but he really should trade Williams before his value further declines.

[Nathan89]

TBH, the wolves would request Bonner in the trade.

[Bruno]

That said, his stats were so good at Arizona that I'd still give up something like Blair and a first rounder on him. I think.

Derrick Williams has a $4.8M salary. Bonner will be needed to match salaries. A trade like Bonner+Neal+1st round pick for him could be a good starting point.

An issue with getting Derrick Williams is that deadline to pick the option on his 3rd year will comes quickly. At the end of the training camp, his team will have to decided whether or not to commit $5M for his 2013-2014 salary.

[Duncan2177]

TBH, the wolves would request Bonner in the trade.

Good get rid of him.

[Redshadows]

Don't think Wolves would give up the second overall pick that fast.

I would trade Bonner + Blair + Neal for Derrick Williams and then sign a bigman for min.








Don't think Williams would help Spurs next season. But good to get rid of Bonner.

[Redshadows]

--Kahn acknowledged that Derrick Williams will have to step up his play to become a part of the mix this year. "I think it challenges Derrick to seize the moment," Kahn said. "I think that, otherwise, Derrick probably would have been in a situation where he would have felt the minutes would just have been handed to him. I think in this environment, Derrick should feel challenged, and I hope he accepts the challenge to seize what he wants as opposed to it just being handed to him. There are no limitations on Derrick's ability to play here, from a minutes standpoint."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/164057606.html

Seem at least Kahn is not gonna trade Derrick Williams right now.

[JonNOKC]

It's shocking to say since he was just the second overall selection last season but everything I've seen of Williams since the draft has been ugly. He's like Michael Beasley but fatter and whinier. The only thing that keeps his stock high is his draft position.

A fat, whiny tweener who can't really shoot and isn't that athletic is difficult to imagine as anything more than a low efficiency chucker, tbh.







That said, his stats were so good at Arizona that I'd still give up something like Blair and a first rounder on him. I think.

So we know the Spurs are content to stick with what they have for now (I think the Spurs want to at least get to training camp and maybe even wait to trade deadline to make next move) I really do think they will make at least one more move to improve frontline by next years trade deadline.

Waiting allows the FO/staff to get better feel on a number of issues like seeing how guard situation shakes out - while Neal seems like the most likely to be dealt - CJs value may be at a high with summer league performance, and while I think Mills has inside track at being the #2 PG, if CJ has great camp and De Colo shows ability to run offense at times then Patty could be attractive to other teams as well.

Also they can get a feel for the health/physical condition of Blair, upside of Richards or other TC bigs, and possibly by waiting until trade deadline maybe the right fit comes available - of course also possible that waiting back fires, so lets hope we haven't missed an opportunity and are left with Bonner in playoffs.

If Spurs want to make move Williams or maybe one of Houston's young PFs would be good place to start. I think that there are many options that are realistic for Spurs to improve frontcourt but the wait sure is frustrating

[ace3g]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA

Golden State has reached agreement on a 3-year, $2.6M deal with Draymond Green, league source tells Y! Green was 35th pick in June draft.

--

Also looks like the Warriors will re-sign Rush and sign Carl Landry

[loveforthegame]

Good signing by the Warriors. They've made some nice moves and had a solid draft. They should improve this year.

[jyra]

Landry going to the Warriors is a good thing. They were one (the only?) team that was linked to Kenyon Martin and could have offered him more than a minimum contract.

[DPG21920]

There is no question that if you can get DW for Bonner/Neal and a late, late 1st rounder you do it. I am not high on him at all, but his ceiling is still so much higher than what you would be giving up that you have to do it.

[ace3g]

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo

Free agent guard Roger Mason has agreed to terms on a contract with the New Orleans Hornets, a source tells Yahoo! Sports.

[racm]

Good replacement for Belinelli.

[TimDunkem]

Not really.

He's a shooter who has forgotten how to shoot.

[Obstructed_View]

Not really.

He's a shooter who has forgotten how to shoot.

Almost like he's a crappy shooter who had an extended hot streak when he was here.

[venitian navigator]

I just took a look at the free agents still available (hoopsworld) and I have to say that ther's still a lot of at least decent names out there with no contract.
I don't know how many teams still have cap space, probably not a lot of them...it's a shame we can offer just minimum contracts.

[Duncan2177]

Chris Andersen Open To Signing For Veteran's Minimum


http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap...terans_Minimum

[sehui]

Chris Andersen Open To Signing For Veteran's Minimum


http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap...terans_Minimum

that would actually be awesome. I know he's got a bad rep, but ingame he's pretty tame.

That whole Child Pornography thing is a little daunting, but, the guys' got talent and size, so I don't really give a .

[Stump]

Please, no Birdman.

[Obstructed_View]

that would actually be awesome. I know he's got a bad rep, but ingame he's pretty tame.

That whole Child Pornography thing is a little daunting, but, the guys' got talent and size, so I don't really give a .

The DA is dragging their feet on charging/clearing him, so nobody's going to touch him until that's out of the way.

[DPG21920]

Per Marc Stein:

Free agent rumble that just dribbled across the pond: Heat & Spurs among teams to express exploratory interest in free agent Andray Blatche

[elemento]

for the MIN, YEAH i would take Birdman

[sehui]

The DA is dragging their feet on charging/clearing him, so nobody's going to touch him until that's out of the way.

Gotham's White Knight?

[Redshadows]

Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson
D-Will/Ridnour for someone. My guess w/ no inside info. is Varejao. RT @PhilipkAnderson: @DarrenWolfson The big move Kahn is talking about?