DWill

J

jdbraver

Guest
#1
We won't pick up his option, but how hard do we go after him to keep him? He sure has been looking better. Is it a fluke or is he finally realizing his potential?
 

Capt. Factorial

ceterum censeo delendum esse Argentum
Staff member
#4
We won't pick up his option, but how hard do we go after him to keep him? He sure has been looking better. Is it a fluke or is he finally realizing his potential?
Well, it's not an option, it's a qualifying offer, which would allow us right of first refusal. Note that the QO is typically listed as a ridiculous $8.7M (which we would never in a million years offer) but because Williams did not meet "starter criteria" his QO goes down to the value of the 15th round pick, which is a bit under $4.3M. That's right in that weird range...I don't want to pay him $4.3M next year because we might have a chance to go after a legit free agent, but I wouldn't mind paying him that value once the salary cap goes up.
 
#5
Well, it's not an option, it's a qualifying offer, which would allow us right of first refusal. Note that the QO is typically listed as a ridiculous $8.7M (which we would never in a million years offer) but because Williams did not meet "starter criteria" his QO goes down to the value of the 15th round pick, which is a bit under $4.3M. That's right in that weird range...I don't want to pay him $4.3M next year because we might have a chance to go after a legit free agent, but I wouldn't mind paying him that value once the salary cap goes up.
Yep, the starter-level QO was a, excuse the pun, non-starter. But $4.3, if he can keep up his current production under Karl, isn't bad (although I'd rather see us spend more on a PF upgrade, and just give Casspi more minutes if he returns for the min).

I do wonder if we'll see Williams and other RFAs just sign the qualifying offer this summer to try to cash in on the expanded cap in 2016. Certainly a major risk, but one many might consider.
 
#7
Well, I think we should pass.

Note that even at the top of his form and production (In the last 15 games),
D-Will hasn't given us the all-around-contribution to even match Casspi's numbers, although that period was arguably Omri's lowest and slowest stretch this season...

My problem is D-Will's habit to go whole games with ZERO contribution besides scoring.
Nothing else, neither on defense, nor on offense. Nada! :(

In the last 15 games, when D-Will was indeed at his best, ranking 3rd on the team in scoring per 36 minutes, he was nearly or literally our worst rebounder, assister & shot blocker!
Players' production per 36 minutes in the last 15 games

With D-Will's beastly explosive athleticism, it is absolutely inexcusable for him to grab less boards than RayMac and Miller, or to block less shots than Stauskas and Ben,
yet he managed to do just that!...
(+dished less assists than Reggie and JT).
 

Capt. Factorial

ceterum censeo delendum esse Argentum
Staff member
#8
It's not a question of whether we should sign D-Will to a $10M contract to be our starting PF. It's a question of whether Williams has proven to have any value in Karl's offense and might be worth bringing back at a reasonable price. Thus far he's scoring better under Karl and hitting threes at a much higher percentage than he was earlier in the year. And as for rebounding, while he hasn't been good, he hasn't been particularly hurting the team there - we're outrebounding our opponents by 4.38 rebounds/game in the Karl era compared to 4.26 for the season (so basically, D-Will's extra minutes haven't hurt us on the boards). We're already a good rebounding team, and rather than focus on something that he's not good at but we don't need him to do, we ought to focus on what he CAN do.

If you had asked me at the beginning of the year whether we should think about signing Williams to a reasonable contract (let's say $3M) next year, I'd have said absolutely not. He's pretty much changed my mind under Karl. And he's got 14 more games to prove whether the early results are a fluke or not. But right now, while I'm not saying we have to bring him back, I think he has to be in the discussion.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#9
Well, it's not an option, it's a qualifying offer, which would allow us right of first refusal. Note that the QO is typically listed as a ridiculous $8.7M (which we would never in a million years offer) but because Williams did not meet "starter criteria" his QO goes down to the value of the 15th round pick, which is a bit under $4.3M. That's right in that weird range...I don't want to pay him $4.3M next year because we might have a chance to go after a legit free agent, but I wouldn't mind paying him that value once the salary cap goes up.
I think you have to let him become an unrestricted freeagent. If the qualifying offer was in the 2 mil range, I would do it, but it's double that, and that's too big a risk to just protect his rights. As to bringing him back, I think its a matter of how much he wants, or how much someone else is willing to offer. There might be a team that thinks offering around 4 mil for him might seem high now, but will look like a good deal once the new TV deal kicks in. Now if god would step in and guarantee that he will continue to play like he has lately, then I'd resign him for 4 or 5 mil. I suspect that's not going to happen. Unless I drink heavily.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#10
Wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. And this is coming from an Arizona fan who's been rooting for D-Will all along. He just can't play NBA basketball, unfortunately.
Well, he's been doing a decent imitation lately. It's possible that he's a one trick pony, and he only fits in a system like Karl's. It would be interesting to have him for one more year to see if he can sustain what he's been doing of late.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#11
It's not a question of whether we should sign D-Will to a $10M contract to be our starting PF. It's a question of whether Williams has proven to have any value in Karl's offense and might be worth bringing back at a reasonable price. Thus far he's scoring better under Karl and hitting threes at a much higher percentage than he was earlier in the year. And as for rebounding, while he hasn't been good, he hasn't been particularly hurting the team there - we're outrebounding our opponents by 4.38 rebounds/game in the Karl era compared to 4.26 for the season (so basically, D-Will's extra minutes haven't hurt us on the boards). We're already a good rebounding team, and rather than focus on something that he's not good at but we don't need him to do, we ought to focus on what he CAN do.

If you had asked me at the beginning of the year whether we should think about signing Williams to a reasonable contract (let's say $3M) next year, I'd have said absolutely not. He's pretty much changed my mind under Karl. And he's got 14 more games to prove whether the early results are a fluke or not. But right now, while I'm not saying we have to bring him back, I think he has to be in the discussion.
Well, you pretty much said it all. And probably better than I could. I agree 100%. At the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have brought him back either. But there's no denying his improvement under Karl. I hope Karl finds a way to increase his minutes a little more for the remaining games. His weakness is obviously his rebounding, but as you say, it hasn't been needed. Hell, when your on the floor with Evans, you might lose your arm trying to grab a board away from him.
 
#12
Again, as I see it:
D-Will's best Casspi's worst (at least this year)
especially since what you get with D-Will is only scoring
(No reb, no asst, no blk, and mainly - no D...)

And we have Casspi for the vet-min (1 m)...
Now, I know it's a kind of a steal we pulled out,
so next year he'll be getting what? Double? 2 m?

With that in mind I say D-Will's talent (or effort, which is much worse)
is too limited and too inconsistent to be getting any more than 2 m,
and there is no way he will settle for any less than 4-5 m,
so, as I see it - he's gone
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
#13
Depends on 2 things
a). If he's willing to play for at max 2.5mil per season (or whatever deal Sessions was on)
b). If Andre Miller (or another pass first playmaker) is the back up PG if not than there's really no point, if we have a scoring guard or Ray Mac off the bench they won't help each other.

While I would never in my life say Derrick is a high IQ basketball player or even an average IQ player one thing he actually does have a really good understanding off is moving without the ball and timing him cuts fairly well.

Micheal Beasley who is obviously quite a bit more offensively talented (with much more mental issues) and has been in the L much longer has finally gotten it in his latest stint with Miami, he's playing good team D and rebounding/assisting maybe Derrick with the coaching off Karl can eventually do the same.

At 2-3 mil per season over 1-2 season it could be worth a gamble in particular if he's got a pass first PG to play with and is in Karl's system.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
#14
Again, as I see it:
D-Will's best Casspi's worst (at least this year)
Not really we have literally won/changed games this season off 1 quarter outbursts off Derrick Williams, while as a whole Casspi this season has been better that's a ridiculous statement, if the bench has lacked one thing this year it's been....scoring.

If Derrick and Casspi want to come back on minimum deals I'm all for bringing both back you can never have enough long athletes on one team.
 
#15
Realizing his potential hasnt been the problem, being consistent and doing something on defense have.

If his asking price is over 2 mil a year, let him walk.
uhm how about a 1 yr non guaranteed minimum salary? seriously though. he's a player that has to be in a system that can utilize his skills which is transition offense.
 
#16
Dirt cheap contract, sure, there are worse guys to have at the end of the bench. But he's probably going to have at least one team willing to offer something more, so I say don't let the door hit you on the way out.
 

kingsboi

Hall of Famer
#18
Williams has played better under Karl, no question. However, this sample size is still too small and I don't want to see him return to be honest. Give me a few players that can play a lick of defense over athleticism any day.
 
#20
Well, you pretty much said it all. And probably better than I could. I agree 100%. At the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have brought him back either. But there's no denying his improvement under Karl. I hope Karl finds a way to increase his minutes a little more for the remaining games. His weakness is obviously his rebounding defense, but as you say, it hasn't been needed. Hell, when your on the floor with Evans, you might lose your arm trying to grab a board away from him.
ftfy
 

kingsboi

Hall of Famer
#22
I'd say resign, give him the summer to work on his defense. If athletic McLemore can do it so can athletic DWill.
I hope you're not implying that Ben is a defender...because for every little spurt we see, there are too many times where he looks like he doesn't belong.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#24
It's hard for me not to temper some of that excitement when you figure that he's going balls out partly so he doesn't have to call Gaungdong his home next year.
While I do not doubt for a minute that you're at least partially correct, I do think there's one other thing that needs to be considered: DWill plays to the crowd. He absolutely thrives on the ohs and ahs when he makes those poster-worthy dunks. If we do resign him, he's going to continue to need the approval of the crowd. It's kind of his drug of choice - and the Kings fans are his dealers.
 
#25
uhm how about a 1 yr non guaranteed minimum salary? seriously though. he's a player that has to be in a system that can utilize his skills which is transition offense.
Nah, I want him gone after this year.

I always see players who re-sign with their same teams for discounted deals only to have their minutes majorly cut when someone better comes in. I wouldn't want that to happen to him here. I wouldn't want to give him the impression that he has anything to do with the immediate future.
 
#26
If we can get him back for cheap, I say yes. I think he and Karl are a pretty good fit and it has been starting to show. He seems to have decent chemistry with the rest of the players. Maybe his improved play makes him that much more enticing as trade bait if need be. Before Karl, I would've definitely said no, but lately he's been showing some decent stuff and been effective at changing momentum at times. IMO we could do much worse than him off the bench.
 
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#27
At most I would keep 1 of casspi and dwill, unless we were talking about min deals. We need more 3 and d type players and neither do those two things with any consistency.

We can't afford to continue to have 3-4 backcourt/swing positions manned by non shooters who don't defend.
 
#28
Nothing helps a historically defensively inept team with its defense more than re-signing a guy whose main defensive calling card seems to be letting dudes drive to the rim at will.
Don't disagree with you but you could pretty much say that for most of the entire Kings team. You see spurts of defense in the huge mix of just telling the score keeper to add to the other team's score. I keep him for the right price.