Rookie feels ready to take over Jazz
By DOUG ALDEN, AP Sports Writer
June 30, 2005

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AP - Jun 29, 6:04 pm EDT
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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Deron Williams talked about his love for passing the ball and playing defense when he was introduced as the Utah Jazz's point guard of the future.

No wonder coach Jerry Sloan already likes him.

``We felt like some of the things he has will make our players better,'' Sloan said Wednesday. ``Not every player who plays this game can do that.''

The rookie out of Illinois already is being considered by fans as the missing cog in the Jazz offense, which sputtered last season to a 26-46 record. Injuries also didn't help, but Utah has a huge need at the point.

The Jazz tried to fill it by trading three first-round draft picks to Portland in exchange for the No. 3 selection Tuesday and a shot at Williams. He knows even more will be expected of him after the Jazz went to such lengths.

``I think they're going to love playing with me just because I'm going to make the game a lot easier for them,'' Williams said. ``I look forward to that. I look forward to the challenge of taking over a team and running a team as a rookie.''

Williams ranks second in career assists at Illinois with 594. He averaged nearly seven assists as a junior last season, helping the Fighting Illini to the NCAA championship game and a 37-2 record.

At 6-foot-3, Williams said he has dropped about 15 pounds and weighs about 200. The Jazz love his size and thought he was a better pick than Wake Forest's Chris Paul, who also was available.

``We knew we were paying a premium. We expected that. We really felt we got the player that we wanted at (No.) 3,'' said Kevin O'Connor, Jazz vice president of basketball operations.

Raul Lopez is the only point guard under contract with the Jazz, but he and the team have been negotiating a buyout so he can stay in his native Spain. Lopez, once thought to be the heir to John Stockton, has been plagued by knee injuries since the Jazz drafted him in the first round four years ago.

If Williams lives up to his pledge of focusing on defense and passing, he will be a natural fit for Sloan. Jazz point guards will always have the extra burden of following Stockton, who retired two years ago as the NBA's career leader in assists and steals.

Replacing him has been a struggle, but Utah believes Williams might be the answer.

``When we've had good point play, we've played pretty well,'' Sloan said. ``We don't expect him to be John Stockton. We expect him to be who he is and have the opportunity to do what we think he can do.''

Updated on Thursday, Jun 30, 2005 3:29 am ED