Draft Prospect: Marcus Williams

[Mr. Body]

Bottom line: good or not good value at 33?

Who else was available? That's where you draw your lines. Is he better than McRoberts or Derrick Byars?

[Steve-O-Matic]

You tell me. Good pick or not?

[Dro210]

Good pick.....

but who's really to say... it's all opinions and assumptions. We won't know for sure anytime soon. Byars or McRoberts (HA!) could turn out to be a stud.... but then again, they may not even ever make it in the league.... same can be said about Marcus right now... only time will tell.

but my opinion is that it's a steal at #33, and could turn into one of those guys that people say 5 years from now.... wow look at all the teams that overlooked this guy.

[DDUBB1770]

This would be absolutely terrible. I just graduated from Arizona and watched every single game of his 2 year college career. Lute Olsen was thrilled to see him go. I don't know that I have ever seen a more selfish player. When Chase Budinger came in and was clearly the superior player this year, Williams checked out mentally. He has absolutely no interest in playing any defense whatsoever, definitely not a fit for the Spurs and I really hope it doesn't happen.

Agreed! Just a heads up for everyone, I am an avid Arizona Wildcats fan being that both of my parents are alum and was raised watching the likes of Elliott and Kerr ect. Although Marcus Williams can score many of his points come from being very active on the offensive glass where he used his length (long arms) to keep balls alive, he may not be able to do this playing with the big boys, he does not create well for himself off the dribble, does not have much of post game to speak of, does get open well off of screens from teammates but is very streaky with his jumper. The worst part maybe especially for this team is that his free throw % dropped from like 74% or something freshman year down to 65% for much of his sop re year, I recall he shot very well the last 5 or 6 games of the season including the Pac 10 and NCAA tourneys to bring it back up to the 69% range. As for his defense tough to say as Lute had the Cats play a lot of zone this year which is unusual for him, historically has almost always played man to man. Also Lute Olsen had issues with his work ethic in practice on more than one occasion. I hope for him to succeed with us as a die hard Spurs fan and Wildcats fan but if he makes the team at all I don't see him having a great impact, but hopefully I'm wrong, maybe the next Richard Jefferson type?

[Dro210]

Agreed! Just a heads up for everyone, I am an avid Arizona Wildcats fan being that both of my parents are alum and was raised watching the likes of Elliott and Kerr ect. Although Marcus Williams can score many of his points come from being very active on the offensive glass where he used his length (long arms) to keep balls alive, he may not be able to do this playing with the big boys, he does not create well for himself off the dribble, does not have much of post game to speak of, does get open well off of screens from teammates but is very streaky with his jumper. The worst part maybe especially for this team is that his free throw % dropped from like 74% or something freshman year down to 65% for much of his sop re year, I recall he shot very well the last 5 or 6 games of the season including the Pac 10 and NCAA tourneys to bring it back up to the 69% range. As for his defense tough to say as Lute had the Cats play a lot of zone this year which is unusual for him, historically has almost always played man to man. Also Lute Olsen had issues with his work ethic in practice on more than one occasion. I hope for him to succeed with us as a die hard Spurs fan and Wildcats fan but if he makes the team at all I don't see him having a great impact, but hopefully I'm wrong, maybe the next Richard Jefferson type?

lol..... please never say that again


but he does create for himself well... and he doesn't need an outstanding post game seeing as he's more of a 1/2/3 than a 3/4

[jdaveah]

Good pick.....

but who's really to say... it's all opinions and assumptions. We won't know for sure anytime soon. Byars or McRoberts (HA!) could turn out to be a stud.... but then again, they may not even ever make it in the league.... same can be said about Marcus right now... only time will tell.

but my opinion is that it's a steal at #33, and could turn into one of those guys that people say 5 years from now.... wow look at all the teams that overlooked this guy.

I would have taken Byars ahead of Marcus and here's why: Could Marcus have taken Byars' Vandy team through the tourney like Derrick did? Put Marcus on that team and they're a first round and out team. Byars willed his team to win some of those games, which is something I never saw Marcus do. Byars also is a very strong defender, and though I realize Dro likes his defense I don't think its debatable that Byars is the better defender. Of course it doesn't matter now and we have Marcus, so it isn't really worth arguing.

And I do agree that at #33 his talent is worth taking the shot. I know the Spurs feel like they might be able to turn him around or they never would have picked him, but do we have much of a track record for turning around character guys? Have we ever done that well before? I was upset having taken him when Byars was still on the board since I wanted Byars at 28, but individually at 33 he's a decent value without considering what else was there.

[Mr. Body]

Byars really sunk in the draft, more than I thought.

I thought McRoberts was better than his draft position, too. (Houston, what were you thinking?)

Curiously they both almost wind up with Portland. At the moment I have to wonder whether McRoberts, talent-wise, wasn't a better pick than Splitter, and Byars wasn't a better pick than Williams.

[T Park]

Byars according to other scouts is terrible.

Splitter I don't know much about, and am not HUGE on, is better than McRoberts.

McRoberts blows.

[Mr. Body]

McRoberts is a much better shot blocker than Splitter, for one.

I dunno about Byars. I have this thing called 'television' that showed 'NCAA basketball games' and Byars is much better than terrible.

[T Park]

I have this thing called 'television' that showed 'NCAA basketball games' and Byars is much better than terrible.

I guess NBA scouts are morons then.

McRoberts is another Cherokee Parks. please. spare me.

[Mr. Body]

Why are you so ing annoying? I was actually on your side twenty minutes ago, but you're like a sniveling, shriveled up smurf.

We'll see on McRoberts and Byars.

[Avitus1]

I wanna have faith so thats what I'll have. If it turns out that he sucks then I'll just call it but for now I guess I'll have faith and wait around to see if he sucks or not.... hopefully not though. He might be worth it.

[Buddy Holly]

Marcus Williams Block
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mBvD0ApLCxg


Marcus Williams Steal and Dunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-93vCTg-8nk&NR=1

[Dro210]

I would have taken Byars ahead of Marcus and here's why: Could Marcus have taken Byars' Vandy team through the tourney like Derrick did? Put Marcus on that team and they're a first round and out team. Byars willed his team to win some of those games, which is something I never saw Marcus do. Byars also is a very strong defender, and though I realize Dro likes his defense I don't think its debatable that Byars is the better defender. Of course it doesn't matter now and we have Marcus, so it isn't really worth arguing.

And I do agree that at #33 his talent is worth taking the shot. I know the Spurs feel like they might be able to turn him around or they never would have picked him, but do we have much of a track record for turning around character guys? Have we ever done that well before? I was upset having taken him when Byars was still on the board since I wanted Byars at 28, but individually at 33 he's a decent value without considering what else was there.

Yea, Byars is for sure a better defender right now, he's also more NBA ready when it comes to strength.... but I'm alot happier with Marcus, I think the upside is just too much greater, and I think that's what the Spurs where thinking too. I don't think Byars is gonna get too much better than what he is right now.

We do have somewhat of a track record of doing this with guys (building character).... Stephen Jackson being the lmost notable. (and some will say... "Stephen Jackson??? You call Stephen Jackson a character guy?!?!..... Well, we never had a problem with him when he was here, it's everybody else that had the problems. I don't think it's a coincidence either)




and for all you McRobert's people...

I would have died alittle inside if we had drafted McRoberts.... Not just because he played at 'that school', but because the only undersized, white, big, playing college basketball in North Carolina last year that's gonna be a decent NBA player is Tyler Hansborough.

[AFBlue]

I have a feeling that the Spurs either wanted "their guy" at #28, or that they were going to go international...but RC said they had Tiago graded out as #2 on their board.

Also, I would trust the Spurs FO on this one since they've no doubt seen a ton of Splitter having kept an eye on his teammate, Scola.

On Byars v. Williams, it's a questionable pick because Byars was advertised as a "Spurs-type" guy with the intangibles and leadership. But, as many have said, it just doesn't seem like he has the projectable skills that Williams does.

With Splitter and Williams, it seems like the Spurs were saying that they were confident in this year's roster and didn't need any immediate help via the draft. Both players are fairly young and have some good upside....overall, solid draft.

[timvp]

http://draftexpress.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599

That thread (once you get past the Bobcats fans) has some rather high praise for Marcus Williams. It should be remember that this guy was considered a sure fire lottery pick not that long ago.

[Solid D]

Which headband-wearing baller will be ready for prime time action on the Wing next season?


#33 Pick in 2007


#31 Pick in 2006

[timvp]

Perhaps the Spurs actually did draft their backup point guard

As fill-in, Williams runs show, enjoys it
By Patrick Finley
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Published: 02.14.2007

Marcus Williams is living every small forward's dream.

When Mustafa Shakur leaves the game for a few minutes, the sop re takes over the point guard spot. He becomes the team's floor leader and touches the ball on every trip down the floor.

"I think he enjoys it," freshman Chase Budinger said. "He cracks jokes here and there, about being the next great UofA point guard."

It is tongue in cheek, to be sure.

"I come at Staf like, 'I'm coming for your spot,'" Williams laughed.

Williams' versatility allows the UA to not extend beyond its seven-man comfort zone. Bret Brielmaier and Jawann McClellan appear to be the only two steady bench players in coach Lute Olson's rotation, and neither play the point.

Williams' stop-gap position switch keeps the team's five best players — sans Shakur — on the floor.

Because of a sprained right ankle, Shakur sat for a total of 14 minutes on the team's road trip to Oregon. Nonetheless, backup guards Daniel Dillon and Nic Wise combined to play only one minute.

"It gives us the opportunity to get an experienced player in the game, particularly on the road," Olson said. "Marcus loves being out there. He'd like to be out there all the time, I think. It gives him an opportunity to show his abilities from a leadership standpoint.

"I think it's his experience — the fact that he's a sop re. When people talk about young teams, we have two freshmen and a sop re in the starting lineup, so there's still a lot of learning to do."

Even when Shakur is in the game, Williams might be assigned to guard the opposition's point guard.

Saturday, Williams blanketed 6-foot Oregon star Aaron Brooks. Seven inches taller than Brooks, Williams held one of the Pac-10's best players to six points on 2-of-14 shooting.

Olson praised Williams' defense, saying he accomplished the major goal from the team's scouting report — shading Brooks so he could not dribble to the right. In Tucson earlier this season, Brooks torched the Wildcats by dribbling to his right off a pick-and-roll.

"There's no question Marcus' length affected Brooks a lot," Olson said. "On Brooks' perimeter shot, that long arm was up there."

Olson was not surprised. The UA coach compared him to Michael erson, the slashing swingman who played point guard to rest Mike Bibby and Jason Terry from 1995-98.

Williams has played four positions — all but center — for the Wildcats this season. He was essentially the team's power forward through the first 18 games of the season.

"He's a versatile guy," forward Ivan Radenovic said. "He has the skills to be a point guard. He has the skills to be a power forward."

Budinger said, "Marcus is a good enough player to play the point guard position, make good decisions and push the ball."

Williams, who played some point guard in high school, admits that every wing wants to run the show every now and again.

"Handling the ball and playing point guard is a little different," he said. "It's not a huge adjustment. The biggest thing is, you've gotta keep your turnovers down.

"You're like the floor general, the quarterback. Obviously, the team kinda goes off you. If you can't get the ball past halfcourt, your team's not going to be effective."

That has not happened yet. Williams is not a true point guard, but, for a few minutes per game, he fills in nicely.

"It allows us to do things we otherwise couldn't do," Olson said.

[SenorSpur]

Which headband-wearing baller will be ready for prime time action on the Wing next season?


#33 Pick in 2007


#31 Pick in 2006

Good point. Another wing player was sorely needed. Looking forward to seeing these two compete in the summer league and for a roster spot.

[Dro210]

I mentioned that in another thread (or maybe the other forum i visit... don't worry guys, not spursreport, lol)

But yea, I do think we'll be at least testing him out alittle bit to see if he can play at the 1 spot at this level or not.... He's too good of a ball handler and passer not to. Think along the lines of a young Brent Barry when he would play some point, faster, longer, better defender, but without the range. He's crafty like that tho.

[florige]

He certainly doesn't sound like Spurs material. Makes me wonder why the Pop and R.C. "took a flyer on him."

Thats what happens when year after year you either win the championship, or have one of the better records in the league. You are pretty much stuck with a "meh" type of draft. Tony "Spurs" Menja on CBS gave us an A, and gave Phx a D.

[ICE3000]

I think I'm going to go with Spurs front office over some random internet poster

AMEN TO THAT.... I HOPE THIS GUY TURNS OUT TO BE A STEAL SO I COULD WATCH ALL THE NAYSAYERS RIDE HIS SACK

[wildbill2u]

No guarantee so he's low risk. Upside looks good as consensus seems to be he's athletic and good defender with decent shot making ability off the jumper as well as driving to the basket.

The fact that he played multiple positions including PG for Lute Olson shows he has good BB instincts and ball handling skills. Spurs worked him out so they have a pretty good idea of his skills. I say not a bad pick at 33.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Saturday, Williams blanketed 6-foot Oregon star Aaron Brooks. Seven inches taller than Brooks, Williams held one of the Pac-10's best players to six points on 2-of-14 shooting.

That's Bowenesque. And yet Tpark didn't want us to draft anyone with that pick last night.

[ducks]

Perhaps the Spurs actually did draft their backup point guard

this would be awesome