Olson: Spurs 'perfect' for Williams
Defending NBA champs will help 33rd pick improve his shot, UA coach says
STEVE RIVERA
Tucson Citizen
Marcus Williams' gamble to leave Arizona early didn't pay off with a first-round pick, but going to San Antonio might make him a better NBA player in the long run.
He was drafted in the second round - the 33rd overall pick - by the defending NBA champion Spurs, who Arizona coach Lute Olson said should help improve Williams' shot.
"I feel good about it, real positive,'' Williams said in a phone interview.
The 6-foot-7 forward, who left after his sop re year, was the only Wildcat drafted. Mustafa Shakur and Ivan Radenovic will try to go the free-agent route or play overseas.
Olson called the Spurs "the perfect team" for Williams.
"They have some wing players who are older and it will give Marcus time to develop," Olson said in a news release. "It's also good because, in my opinion, Chip Engelland is the best shooting coach in the country and he's a member of San Antonio's coaching staff. Before it started, it was my hope that Marcus would be picked by San Antonio."
How Does Williams fit in with the Spurs, who have won four NBA les since 1999?
"We have got a pretty veteran team with some players who are nearing the end of their careers,'' Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said in a phone interview. "We hope that adding a young wing with a lot of talent could grow in our program. We'll see what happens.''
Williams had an inkling he might go to San Antonio after a good workout there. Still, the Spurs bypassed him with the 28th pick in the first round, grabbing forward Tiago Splitter of Brazil.
There are reports Splitter might not be with the Spurs next season because he must buy out his Brazilian contract, which is said to be excessive.
That might give Williams a better shot of making the roster.
"It went really well," he said of his workout with the Spurs. "I liked the coaching staff and everything.''
First-round draftees are guaranteed money for two years at a minimum of about $720,000 a season.
Those picked in the second round are not, unless their agent can find a way to get a guarantee.
Two years ago, former UA guard Salim Stoudamire was chosen with the 31st pick (the second round) and landed a guaranteed contract.
Shortly after the first round was over Thursday, ESPN analysts criticized underclassmen who declared early but were not drafted in the first round.
"Who is advising them?'' one analyst asked.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas spoke well of Williams.
"He has very good size for a small forward,'' Bilas said. 'He's a good offensive player and versatile scorer. He moves without the ball and is almost fearless on the offensive end.
"He's not a great 3-point shooter, in fact not a 3-point shooter at all.
"The question is, what is his commitment going to be on defense and on the glass? If he can improve his strength and work ethic, I think he has a chance to be a really solid NBA player.''
Williams, a Seattle native, declared for the NBA in April and decided to stay in the draft pool, after being convinced or convincing himself he'd be a first-round pick. He averaged a team-leading 16.6 points and 6.7 rebounds a game last season.
Williams could be helped with his transition by the presence of former Arizona star Sean Elliott, who had a successful career with the Spurs and is a radio analyst for the team.
Throughout Williams' rookie season, Olson often compared Williams to Elliott, citing their composure and similarity in game style.
"I hope he is right,'' Buford said. "Sean is a two-time all star, (but) it would be unfair for me to compare him to anyone. He needs to come in and be Marcus, work hard, improve and be part of our culture and be a part of this thing.''
Former Wildcat star guard Steve Kerr helped San Antonio win a le in 1999.
Kerr is now the general manager in Phoenix.
"Arizona has quite a connection to the Spurs,'' Buford said. "We've had some good luck so we're going to try it again.''
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/56068.php
Awesome article.
Too many good parts to quote, actually. Sounds like he's happy to be here, Olson feels it's a good fit, the Spurs want him and see talent in him.
As I said in another thread, the Spurs have a lot of connections to Arizona so I trust the scouting job they did on Williams. For a second round pick, this guy has very good upside.
Trust me ya'll. I'm a huge AZ fan, and I follow them a lot. The thing about Williams is his offensive upside. If he's about to improve on his shot, he will be awesome offensively. Also, he has the tools to be a decent defensive player. He has long arms and is pretty quick. I always believe his defensive liabilities was mental. Also, Marcus handles the ball pretty well for a 6-7 guy.
He's certainly athletic and he has a scorer's mentality. He doesn't have a very quick release on his jump shot but then again, neither did Terry mings or Oscar Robertson.
I think the Spurs drafted for need with this pick. I liked Fazekas at 33 and was disappointed they didn't take Nick here. However, Marcus is a wing player and the Spurs have a similar player to Fazekas in Matt Bonner if they can re-sign Matt.
Sounds pretty good so far.
I still wonder why the Spurs picked him over Derrick Byars.
Good article.... Regardless of them bumping heads, Lute shows nothing but class as expected, and he's right... We really are the perfect team for Marcus, here's to hoping he's the perfect fit for us too.
Whoever said Williams' defensive liability's were mental is pretty on-point I think(usckk).... He's not gonna have a choice of wether or not he wants to play defense around here tho. So it shouldn't be a problem, cause when he's playing defense, he's pretty good at it.
Obviously, several teams had concerns over Byars, whatever those are.
Every 1'st or 2nd round pick has good writeups on them to make them sound like they have good future potential. I see it every year after the draft, that the spurs pick will turn out to be a good player. Reality is chances are it doesn't happen. And the spurs like every team have passed up some good picks for weaker ones so it does happen.
Weren't there better options at guard at 33?
Buford visited Arizona throughout the year and saw Marcus in practices.
I fully expect the Spurs to keep Marcus.
Olson develops good players and who play good team basketball.
Kid is a stud.
whoops typo"We have got a pretty veteran team with some players who are nearing the end of their careers,'' Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said in a phone interview. "We hope that adding a young wing with a lot of talent could grow in our program. We'll see what happens.''
I am standing behind whatever draft choices the Spurs make, I mean its not like I have a say in it anyway.
Comparing him to Elliott is extremely high praise for Williams. The Ninja always played hard on both sides of the ball...even if he never really became a dominant player. If they are comparing him to Elliott defensively that's even more impressive...because Elliott was a fantastic defensive player...he wasn't Bruce...but there are like 2 other Bruce's in NBA history. Elliott was about as good of a defensive player as you could get without having a DPOY candidate. I don't see how the kid can have a bad work ethic if he's being compared to Elliott.
Yeah, after hearing this, and the praise from his head assistant on the radio, makes you excited as about Marcus Williams.
At the very least, gives you a reason to drive up to Austin to watch the kid.
I wasn't big on the idea when they drafted him, but I hope the kid proves me wrong. Either way, this offseason and coming season will give the Spurs a better understanding of what both Williams and James White have. If they both excel, it could be interesting for the Spurs as to making Roster spots.
We will start to have an idea on how high are Spurs are on Williams in a week.
Early second round pick often get guaranteed money, will Spurs be ready to give him a partially or fully guaranted contract ?
I think some of this is smokescreen. I don't think Olson was very happy with Williams' at ude this year, no matter what he says now. Doesn't mean the guy has no potential, though.
What about him did you not like?
Honestly, I know nothing about him, and hadn't even read anything about him at all.
The short version of the story is, he was a star as a freshman two years ago, but then Arizona got Mickey D's All-American Chase Budinger last year and he looked like he was going to supplant Williams as the star, and Williams played selfishly.
I didn't see enough of Arizona to be able to tell, but the word is they were pretty dysfunctional.
The question was for Beer is Good, but thanks for your insight too. I hadn't heard that.
T-Park, you were trashing Williams pretty hard last night, bro.
Surpised, especially after reading your comment in this thread about you not knowing much about him....I thought you had seen him play the way you were talking.
I think he will win you over.
At least, I hope.
It would have been possible to smokescreen without the Elliott comparison, since Elliott is one of Olson's all time favorite players. The fact that he threw that comparison out there is telling. If he was just trying to be nice, he could have said a lot of nice things without mentioning Sean's name.
What I really like about Marcus is that he always defended the teams best player.
He never complained about it and relished it.
So, if the Spurs were to ask the same from him, it would not be too surprising to him.
Although, I do not expect him to make any impact on the roster next year...unless serious injuries occur.
He will more than liklely be sent down to the Toros, and possibly become the main chip on the Toros squad next year.
Thus, he will be familiar with the Spurs system, and he will be extremely close to home.
Well I trashed the pick because of a few thingsT-Park, you were trashing Williams pretty hard last night, bro.
Surpised, especially after reading your comment in this thread about you not knowing much about him....I thought you had seen him play the way you were talking.
I think he will win you over.
At least, I hope.
I heard hes a bad defender, a bad character guy, and a horrible three point shooter.
Now the three point shooting, pfft, chip england fixes that.
The character and defense you prob cant fix. BUT, from the interviews with Lute Olsen and Pastner, hes the total an hisis of what was described.
Yeah, dude.
Williams was actually highy touted coming into Arizona.
However, his shot is not too bad.
I believe he was strong from behind the arc his freshmen year.
He played out of position this year and had various other duties, so this was a rough season for him.
I think the character issues were blown out of control and can be taken control of here.
SJax had trouble issues and he helped us win a ring, and was key in capturing it.
Even James White's character was once put under the scope and the Spurs stuck it out with him an entire year and appear to like him.
I think it can work!
MW will end up in Austin (7' wingspan makes him a future contender for a spot on the Spurs) as White's one yr of experience under DJ and Pop will win him a spot in camp. Can't wait to see White's explosiveness in the NBA.
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