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He's playing for the Dakota Wizards.
http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfil...ame_stats.html
You want shotblocking? There it is.
3rd best shotblocker in NCAA history(Behind only Adonal Foyle and DRob) and his talent has transferred. And he's a got a beast work ethic.
This guy is going to be a better shotblocker than anyone we are going to have a chance to draft or sign barring a lottery pick. Better than Javtokas...better than Mahinimi or Butler.
Sign this guy to preserve the Spurs D scheme for the future...alongside Mahinimi and Butler.
This guy is going to be the dominant shotblocker in the league once finally lands on a team...it'd be nice if it's the Spurs he does this for.
He's playing for the Dakota Wizards.
The Kings cut him a long time ago.
His offensive game is what's not good enough for the NBA...his shotblocking(definitely) and rebounding were NBA ready in training camp.
The NBA has been in a lowblock era for a while now, there are some greatshotblockers, but it's a far cry from the early to mid 90's when you had Zo, Shaq, Ewing, Deke, Hakeem and Drob....among many, many others.
And it's been a low block era in College for a while now too...then this kid comes along and blocks over 5 a game...that's no fluke. Shotblocking is extremely important to the Spurs Defense and it's just sitting there waiting to be signed...and this kid could be the dominant shotblocker of his generation.
His scouting profle reads a whole of a lot like Ben Wallace's early profile IMO too.
Last edited by whottt; 12-20-2006 at 02:25 AM.
Chump, did you get to see this kid against the Toros? What'd you think?
The Toros played the Wiz in Bismark. I don't think they're coming to town until the end of the season. I'm sure one of his game will be on NBAtv, and there's a small chance I'd be in DFW when he plays the Flyers.
BTW, there were more scouts Sunday than I've ever seen at a Toro game. I think they were there mainly to check out Andre Brown and Frank Williams, though some of them may have wanted to find out why Anthony Fuqua improved so much.
Funny Sacto didn't keep him. They appear to have a roster spot available. My guess is they didn't want the luxury tax hit for signing him at all, but he certainly does look productive.
His stats are great and he is still young.
If he is quick enough to defend PFs like Dirk or Odom, he can really help Spurs.
I don't see Spurs waiving Eric Williams just to sign a young player from DLeague because they should do a move to go under the Luxury tax before. If the roster and salary situation allow Spurs to sign a young player, Justin Williams seems to be a good choice.
Last edited by Bruno; 12-20-2006 at 10:05 AM. Reason: typo
I don't know why we cut him, that was a mistake but there's been a lot of them lately.
Loren Woods put up huge college shotblocking numbers in college as well...I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in that. This guy's potential upside is at about the level of Desagana Diop. Not worth salivating over imo.
Was an interesting prospect out of college last year. Looked to be of the same ilk as Theo Ratliff, especially sharing the same alma mater. I was surprised no one took a shot on him in the second round last year. I'm more surprised no one has taken a shot at him on their roster with the lack of quality big men throughout the league.
Last I looked, we don't have a Diop on our roster and could use one. By the sounds of it, this guy has what Butler doesn't - an unstoppable motor. Reading DraftExpress, which is high on him, it sounds like he needs to add some weight and greatly improve his post defense, but his weak-side defense is already exceptional and he pops and recovers very well on pick-and-rolls. Those last two things would help a great deal against Dallas, for example, if only for spot minutes.
Justin Williams tries to work his way into the NBA
An AP Member Exchange Feature By SCOTT ALLEN
Casper Star-Tribune
CASPER, Wyo. - For a reminder of where he was and where he again wants to be, Justin Williams need look no further than his jersey.
The former Wyoming standout is the starting center for the NBA D-League's Dakota Wizards, whose purple uniforms are strikingly similar to those of the Sacramento Kings. Williams signed as an undrafted free agent with Sacramento in July, but was waived before the regular season began.
Based on his numbers through eight games with Dakota, Williams could earn another shot at the next level soon. Williams is averaging 12 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.25 blocks per game for the 6-2 Wizards, who are based in Bismarck, N.D.
His agent, Darren White, said things are looking up for the Chicago native.
"The way things are going, I think he'll be one of the first players to be called up," White said.
While Dakota is officially affiliated with the NBA's Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls, Williams can be called up by any one of the NBA's 30 teams. It is common for teams to wait to call up players until Jan. 5, the first day that players can be signed to 10-day contracts. Last season, only one of the D-League's 18 call-ups occurred before Jan. 5.
White didn't expect Williams would be in his present situation when he signed a partially guaranteed, one-year contract with Sacramento on July 24. But Williams became expendable when the Kings signed veteran big man Maurice Taylor, and White said he thought Sacramento's decision to waive Williams was also, at least in part, a cost-cutting measure.
"I think that that was more of a business decision than it was Justin," White said. "I think he had an excellent training camp based on the minutes that he played."
Sacramento head coach Eric Musselman admitted as much in an interview on the Kings' team Web site shortly before the Kings waived Williams.
"He is a guy that the odds are stacked against him based on guaranteed contracts," Musselman said. "All he can do is play as hard as he can play, and that's what he has done."
White said Williams had plenty of opportunities to play overseas, where the money is often better but the odds of being plucked by an NBA team are slim. Ultimately, White told Williams he should do what he does best - rebound and defend - while continuing to develop his offensive game in the D-League, and NBA teams would take notice.
"I think that was the reason why he wanted to play in the D-League," White said. "He feels that he's right there."
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...s/16321912.htm
The race to be the first D-League big man called up is between Williams and Andre Brown.
man.. williams can rebound too
They'll have to sign someone now with all of these injuries and sicknesses going around.
come on dude....
They would have to cut someone first.
If you're talking about the Spurs, this bug doesn't seem like a long-term one. Oberto is already over it.
This guy looks like the . We should try to sign him in the offseason to replace Bonner and Horry(assuming Bonner walks and Horry retires).
Or... a trade.
Finley+Beno+Bonner for Maggette. THEN sign Williams.Or... a trade.
Called up by the Kings.
http://draftexpress.com/blogs.php?blogid=6
Wow, do you know how much I wish we had Diop sometimes?
Diop it like its hot....
The Spurs are so deficient in the areas of interior defense and shotblocking that I find myself unknowingly getting envious when I see other teams defending both the paint and the rim. I say to myself "I wish someone on our team would do that".
NBA Inside Stuff host Ahmad Rashad said Duncan was a premier shotblocker after he showed the highlight of Duncan swatting away another point guards scoop shot.
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