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September 29, 2007
Spurs Sign Marcus Williams
SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they signed their 2007 second round draft pick Marcus Williams. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Williams, the 33rd overall pick, played for the Spurs summer league teams in both Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 18.6 minutes in five games in the Vegas Summer League and 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.8 minutes in five games at the Rocky Mountain Revue.
Williams spent two seasons at the University of Arizona before declaring for the NBA Draft. Last season he earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors as a sop re. The 6-7 forward ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in scoring (16.6 ppg) and eighth in rebounding (6.7 rpg), while registering four double-doubles in 30 games. Williams scored in double figures 20 times and had a career-high 34 points – along with 12 rebounds – vs. Oregon on Jan. 14, 2007. As a freshman, he was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team, averaging 13.0 points and 4.7 rebounds. During his two years with the Wildcats, he averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting .475 (355-748) from the field. Williams participated in the 2005 Global Games as a member of Team USA, averaging 18.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in six games.
Nice.
So much for everyone who was hoping the Spurs would let him go to Europe or just not sign him.
Looks like the Toros will have two nice prospects (Ian and Marcus) this year.
I'm Marcus has been working with Chip and this year will improve drastically.
Yeah shucks, they signed a 20 year old talented small forward who can play defense and is wanting to learn and be taught.
The Spurs are so cursed.
They can still probably cut him at any time, but I like the signing. What other reason would they have for buying the Toros than developing young talent?
I'd rather have him in Austin than in Europe.
Williams and Mahinmi will be more than enough motivation to drive up there and see them play.
Will he be wearing #26 like summer league?
I'm right there with ya TPark. I really like this signing despite the naysayers. I think we're all going to be pleasantly surprised this season.
It'll be interesting to see how much guaranteed money he got. The less, the better.
I'll be pleasantly surprised if he averages double figures in D-League. That said, the D-League is so watered down this year it'd probably be a horrible sign if he can't average double digits there.
He probably just got $25K guaranteed or something.
It's interesting that the Spurs haven't announced any training camp roster yet.
I think the people of Austin may be mildly surprised. Oh, and Marcus? Don't suck at training camp...I'm right there with ya TPark. I really like this signing despite the naysayers. I think we're all going to be pleasantly surprised this season.
The only Spurs fans who are excited about Marcus Williams right now are the Spurs fans that didn't watch him play in summer league. He was usually the worst player on the court.
The three things he has going for him are he wants to defend, his offense used to not be as horrible and he seems like a hard worker. Other than that, there's nothing to get excited about unless you want to have blind faith in the front office.
I've watched summer league now for about nine years and Marcus Williams managed to play at a level of suck I've never seen before.
For those wanting to bury the kid for his dismal performance during SL, let's see how he develops over the next year or so before we label him a big ol bust.
Everyone signs to go to training camp. He probably got what Landry (Rockets 2nd round) got ("tender" offer) and has to make the team which he may not. Williams was holding out for guaranteed money and got none so he had to sign with nothing else looming except nbdl or europe.
If he could not impress in SL I doubt he can do it in preseason. I've never seen so many airballs and horrid shot selection.
My recollection is foggy about what happened with Sean Banks, but I think he remained on the Tulsa D-League team for at least a few games after he was waived by the Hornets. Maybe the Spurs have a similar CIA plan in store for Marcus. Any team could call him up in that case -- but it would be cheap, and that's all the Spurs have ever cared about, right?
Supposedly there is a way you can release a pick and still retain his rights if he signs a "certain" contract. Spurs know Williams is not ready to help them now but think he has pro potential and want to retain his rights w/o paying an nba salary. My understanding is that Williams nor his agent wants this. Last year Seattle gave 2nd rd pick Denham Brown the same deal that Williams is getting and Brown was waived, went to the nbdl w/o nba salary. I cannot see Williams making this team.
Speaking of training camp, We will possibly get to see how Sanikidze does against NBA talent when the Grizzlies play Sanikidze's team MMT Estudiantes on October 11; part of the NBA Europe Live tour
Being in Austin, I'm almost as excited for the Toros this season as I am for the Spurs.
Is Sanikidze still with them?
Knowing how the Spurs operate, I would be willing to bet that there is no guaranteed money involved here - nor should there be. This kid is certainly not a lock to make the squad. Given his apparent work ethic so far, I just hope the Spurs invest enough time in him to see him develop.
Seattle now hs no rights to Brown.Last year Seattle gave 2nd rd pick Denham Brown the same deal that Williams is getting and Brown was waived, went to the nbdl w/o nba salary.I couldn't see Ian's making the team either unless it was specifically to be sent to Austin.I cannot see Williams making this team.
Ian will make it because of his position and size...be sent to the nbdl for further development/practice.
A Marcus Williams they can get in any year's draft.
ChumpDumper I know Seattle did not retain Brown's rights...they CUT him. He refused to sign the contract they wanted him to sign...,just as Williams is refusing.
Last edited by tomcat; 09-29-2007 at 04:41 PM.
So could Marcus.Ian will make it becuase of his position and size...be sent to the nbdl for further development/practice.But they got him in this year's draft.A Marcus Williams they can get in any year's draft.Williams DID sign a contract.He refused to sign the contract they wanted him to sign...,just as Williams is refusing.
I don't know why we are pretending the Spurs were forced to choose Williams at gunpoint and he is holding the entire Spurs season hostage by wanting some guaranteed money from a first-year minimum contract. The Spurs can waive him at any time regardless of the guaranteed amount, but they obviously want to have a look at him. Otherwise they wouldn't have even bothered to give him a tender offer.
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