Watching that Derrick Williams interview, it's hard to see how some got the impression that he came off deluded by success or as a braggart of any sort. The MO that I gleaned from that interview was confidence in his versatility. The way he described what he hoped to contribute sounded like he could absolutely be that super glue guy that the Kings need. And it's exactly what I expected he could do throughout the year.
People worry about his defensive capability -- you have to understand that if he were to somehow become a part of this team, he would NOT be the #1 offensive option (which is a given with our two established building blocks). Much like how we don't put Tyreke on the opposing team's best perimeter player (even though he's the most physically capable of doing so outside of maybe Donte), he wasn't asked to throw everything he had on defense because of the load he carried on the other end. Being on this team as the third option would allow him to exert that defensive energy. He's certainly athletic enough to do so.
Granger and Iguodala, the two veteran players so many have coveted here, were (or still is, in Granger's case) #1 options on their teams. If we were fortunate enough to get either on the Kings, they'd immediately be asked to take a backseat on offense and contribute as a more rounded supporting player. And people have drooled away at the prospect, as if the transition would be a given. So why would it be hard to expect the same from a player who is even less established than those two?
Again, there was nothing in that interview to suggest he'd be at odds with not being the franchise player. Does he believe he can be that player? That, I saw. But wouldn't you be concerned if he didn't expect himself to achieve things like All-Star games and ROY? Isn't that the same confidence that Cousins showed during these pre-draft sessions last year? The last thing I would want is to depend on is an uber-talented, multi-faceted player as a third option who isn't confident or aggressive enough to exert himself upon the game every night. Can you say "Lamar Odom" with me?
Here's a guy who has the athleticism to guard the position (asked to play at the 4 out of necessity), has decent handles and a face-up game, can rebound like hell, can hit the spot-up three, and has the strength and low-post game to punish mismatches. Can you name another need at the position that he doesn't cover? If I'm Petrie, I'm doing everything in my power to swindle Kahn out of that 2 spot in the draft to get this guy.
