Meet Derrick Williams

I do look forward to him potentially being the first 'Power' 3 we've had since Corliss Williamson. As oppossed to the finesse 3's we've always seemed to have.

Corliss on the staff could pay big dividends for him. Shall be interesting

Well there was also that brief visit to Sacramento by Ron Artest. I think Ron Ron qualifies as a "Power" 3:)

The trade does not make sense to me. I will keep an open mind and see how Williams plays for the Kings.

KB
 
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Michael Malone on if he'll use Derrick Williams at small forward or power forward. #SacKings:

"I think a little bit of both. Right now obviously with losing Luc (Mbah a Moute), there's a void at the three spot. So Derrick is going to get time at the three and he's also going to get time at the four. We'll put him in as many positions as we can for him to have success and if that proves to be the four, then it'll be at the four. But right now, he's gonna play three for us and he'll also slide to the four at times."
 
Lets hope the Kings coaching staff g


Well there was also that brief visit to Sacramento by Ron Artest. I think Ron Ron qualifies as a "Power" 3:)

The trade does not make sense to me. I will keep an open mind and see how Williams plays for the Kings.

KB

Ron was strong, but not long. Williams could potentially be both. Lets find out

I'm disappointed that we had to give up Moute, but understand that taking 'risks' is the only way to try to get ahead sometimes. If nothing else, our organization is very passionate and active to make change
 
I've stated most of my thoughts in the other thread but wanted to mention something that I haven't seen so far.
When the college basketball season starts you have your top 100 college players that you try to watch as much of as you can as they have the highest probability of getting drafted and making an impact in the NBA.
Derrick Williams wasn't even in the top 100 in some lists going into his Sophomore year at Arizona but he worked on his game and played himself into a top pick. That is how good he was that year. So he played with a chip on his shoulder in Arizona and I'm hoping that he brings that same competitive fight here to Sacramento.
I don't believe that he's going to be a 'sure thing' with the Kings. What I do like is that Malone has acknowledged that they will try him out at the SF position due to the gaping hole there, and I think that if he's going to have a positive impact on the court it is going to have to be at the SF position.
I also believe that he's knows nothing is given now and that he'll have to fight to earn his minutes. With a clean slate and hopefully good coaching from Malone I for one am excited to see if he can turn things around with our team.
 
We are in a position where it's very reasonable to take a "risk", by letting him develop at the 3 position. Any team thinking of making the playoffs and/or advancing, probably could not make that kind of invested risk

It will be interesting to watch thing unfold, especially if we eventually get to see a lineup that includes McCallum, McLemore, Williams, and Cousins. Darn near a college team with that kind of youth move
 
Michael Malone on if he'll use Derrick Williams at small forward or power forward. #SacKings:

"I think a little bit of both. Right now obviously with losing Luc (Mbah a Moute), there's a void at the three spot. So Derrick is going to get time at the three and he's also going to get time at the four. We'll put him in as many positions as we can for him to have success and if that proves to be the four, then it'll be at the four. But right now, he's gonna play three for us and he'll also slide to the four at times."

Better than what Keith Smart would have said:) "I think a little bit of everything. Right now obviously with losing Luc there's a void at the three spot. So Derrick is going to get time at the three but he's also going to get time at the four -maybe back up center and more. After all, he's 6'8" and long and Chuck Hayes is barely 6'6" and stubby. At UofA it seemed Derrick played everywhere - just ask Duke. We'll see, because I'm going to put him in best position to use all of that talent and coach him up the right way."
 
Michael Malone on if he'll use Derrick Williams at small forward or power forward. #SacKings:

"I think a little bit of both. Right now obviously with losing Luc (Mbah a Moute), there's a void at the three spot. So Derrick is going to get time at the three and he's also going to get time at the four. We'll put him in as many positions as we can for him to have success and if that proves to be the four, then it'll be at the four. But right now, he's gonna play three for us and he'll also slide to the four at times."


I do not mind this as long as he gets the majority of the time at SF. With him at SF we would have a very tall lineup who can hopefully create fits for the other team.
 
If Jared Dudley/Draymond Green can defend ok @ the 3 I see no reason why Derrick Williams cannot.
 
As a lifelong Wildcats fan I approve of adding DW. Not sure I like what we gave up. I hope he can play the 3. One of my favorite Cats of all time, he jumpstarted the Sean Miller era. Like Sean Elliot a guy I really hoped we drafted but not sure will ever be close to the NBA player as what he meant to UA. Still, I'm glad he's here.
 
I guess we are going to find out quickly if he has the quicks and perimeter game to play the 3 which a lot doubt. at the other end of the spectrum would he be the type of 4 that you would want next to Cousins, as we always said we'd like somebody manning the paint next to him?
 
I guess we are going to find out quickly if he has the quicks and perimeter game to play the 3 which a lot doubt. at the other end of the spectrum would he be the type of 4 that you would want next to Cousins, as we always said we'd like somebody manning the paint next to him?

He does not man the paint. He'd be more like a ppat compliment to cuz.
 
The thing that continues to make me shake my head at what people get hyped over is that that description, without more, really isn't much more than a good roleplayer. The game is played with a ball, stars play with the ball. If your game is basically spot up and catch and shoot, or go inside for an alley oop, well that's pretty much exactly what roleplayers do. They just convert what their betters create for them. Except of course to date Williams hasn't been very good at the conversion part. I can't escape the feeling Kahn drafted him #2 because he saw him with a big dunk in college and went ooh! Wow!

I'm a little late in my response, so excuse me. In your offensive write up, I disagree with whom ever you got your info from. Williams actually has a pretty good post game with a lot of up and under moves after pump fakes. He's fairly patient in the post. What I don't get is what happened to his shot. In college he shot better than 50% from beyond the arc. Maybe Gent can revive his shot. His ballhandling, while not like a PG's, is fine for the forward spot. I also find it amusing that some critics say that he's not quick enough for the SF position, but yet he was apparently beat out in Minny by Robbie Hummel. Hummel is about a third of the athlete that Williams is, and if Hummel can play SF, then I guarantee you Williams can, as far as athleticism goes.

No, I think the problem is that he just didn't fit well into Adelman's princeton offense. Don't know the reason, but one thing is that you have to be a good passer to be effective in that offense, and judging from Williams assist totals, that may have been the problem.

It also been mentioned that Adelman perfers experienced players. Doesn't mean he won't work with young players if he has little choice, but if you give him a choice, he'll usually go with the experienced player. Just ask Wallace. In this case between Hummel and Williams, both young, Hummel is the better passer. As for Khan, the man is an idiot. This is the guy who drafted Johnny Flynn, Wesley Johnson, and thought Millic was the next Chris Webber.
 
Last time we traded for a Wildcat it worked out real well for us. :D

Anyways, from his twitter:

Derrick Williams‏@RealDwill77h
Thank you to the Minnesota Timberwolves organization and the fans for everything. I'm excited for the new opportunity in #SacTown #Kings !
 
I posted in the other personnel thread my thoughts but I believe this move will end up leading to us moving JT or PPat. If DWill is going to succeed, I believe it's going to be as a PF. He's going to be to slow for SFs. Lets hope the staff can develop his handle so that he can take PFs off the dribble. It's all potential still with the kid. He's going to get an opportunity to deliver finally. I know we need defensive players but geez, we also need guys who can put the ball in the hoop. We are in short supply of that type of guy.

Where in the hell does anyone get the idea that Williams is slow? He's a terrific athlete, and that was one of the reasons he went high in the draft. Example: Doug McDerrmott is having another career year averaging 27 pts a game and around 9 boards a game for Creighton, and he's projected to go somewhere in the bottom half of the first round. Last year he was projected as a 2nd round pick. You know why? Because he's not a good athlete. Williams is!! Now that doesn't make him a good defender, but it does mean he has the physical attributes to become one. Someone somewhere says that Williams isn't quick enough to guard SF's and others just pick it up and run with it like its gospel truth.
 
I'll second Baja on William's outside shooting. He was a good shooter in college. If a guy backed off him, he hit the outside shot; if he was played closely he dribbled around him and made good things happen. If you can hit open outside shots in college you should be able to hit open outside shots in the NBA. As an aside, I did notice the same thing with Corey Brewer. He hit huge shots from the outside in college to win games. Then he comes into the NBA and seems to lose all confidence in his outside shot. Now he's a credible outside threat. Go figure. I guess sometime change can screw with your brain. Hopefully, the new scenery and coaching staff brings back William's outside shot. If so, it would be very beneficial to his overall game.
 
Where in the hell does anyone get the idea that Williams is slow? He's a terrific athlete, and that was one of the reasons he went high in the draft. Example: Doug McDerrmott is having another career year averaging 27 pts a game and around 9 boards a game for Creighton, and he's projected to go somewhere in the bottom half of the first round. Last year he was projected as a 2nd round pick. You know why? Because he's not a good athlete. Williams is!! Now that doesn't make him a good defender, but it does mean he has the physical attributes to become one. Someone somewhere says that Williams isn't quick enough to guard SF's and others just pick it up and run with it like its gospel truth.

Depends on who says it but that IS what happens. When the respected posters come to some kind of concensus it can be spread as gospel. We are nowhere near that with Williams. I sure don't know what we've got and although Adleman is a great coach, I think also Malone may have an impact on certain kinds of players and I hope Williams is one of them. Malone has skills. I hope it works out and I have far more faith in our FO now that they have been together for awhile. I'm willing to give PDA a pass on last summer although I think the moves sucked unless they were meant to suck.
 
I'll second Baja on William's outside shooting. He was a good shooter in college. If a guy backed off him, he hit the outside shot; if he was played closely he dribbled around him and made good things happen. If you can hit open outside shots in college you should be able to hit open outside shots in the NBA. As an aside, I did notice the same thing with Corey Brewer. He hit huge shots from the outside in college to win games. Then he comes into the NBA and seems to lose all confidence in his outside shot. Now he's a credible outside threat. Go figure. I guess sometime change can screw with your brain. Hopefully, the new scenery and coaching staff brings back William's outside shot. If so, it would be very beneficial to his overall game.

I don't think figuring is that difficult. ;) This is why we wait for youngsters to have a few years experience before we pass final judgment.
 
I'll second Baja on William's outside shooting. He was a good shooter in college. If a guy backed off him, he hit the outside shot; if he was played closely he dribbled around him and made good things happen. If you can hit open outside shots in college you should be able to hit open outside shots in the NBA. As an aside, I did notice the same thing with Corey Brewer. He hit huge shots from the outside in college to win games. Then he comes into the NBA and seems to lose all confidence in his outside shot. Now he's a credible outside threat. Go figure. I guess sometime change can screw with your brain. Hopefully, the new scenery and coaching staff brings back William's outside shot. If so, it would be very beneficial to his overall game.

Maybe it's simply that the NBA 3 point arc is a longer distance shot, which makes it more difficult to shoot as high of a percentage? ;) Not everyone has that kind of range immediately, even if they shot the 3 well in college.

There's been many many examples of players developing the increased NBA range later in their career
 
Maybe it's simply that the NBA 3 point arc is a longer distance shot, which makes it more difficult to shoot as high of a percentage? ;) Not everyone has that kind of range immediately, even if they shot the 3 well in college.

There's been many many examples of players developing the increased NBA range later in their career

VERY common. That's the one skill that almost universally changes if the player starts with any kind of skill at all. Even Boogie is shooting better as his free throw percentage shows.
 
Where in the hell does anyone get the idea that Williams is slow? He's a terrific athlete, and that was one of the reasons he went high in the draft. Example: Doug McDerrmott is having another career year averaging 27 pts a game and around 9 boards a game for Creighton, and he's projected to go somewhere in the bottom half of the first round. Last year he was projected as a 2nd round pick. You know why? Because he's not a good athlete. Williams is!! Now that doesn't make him a good defender, but it does mean he has the physical attributes to become one. Someone somewhere says that Williams isn't quick enough to guard SF's and others just pick it up and run with it like its gospel truth.
Show me any bit of information anywhere that says he is a good defender at the SF position.
 
Where in the hell does anyone get the idea that Williams is slow? He's a terrific athlete, and that was one of the reasons he went high in the draft. Example: Doug McDerrmott is having another career year averaging 27 pts a game and around 9 boards a game for Creighton, and he's projected to go somewhere in the bottom half of the first round. Last year he was projected as a 2nd round pick. You know why? Because he's not a good athlete. Williams is!! Now that doesn't make him a good defender, but it does mean he has the physical attributes to become one. Someone somewhere says that Williams isn't quick enough to guard SF's and others just pick it up and run with it like its gospel truth.

People often confuse being able to jump with being an all around athlete. Williams can jump, and if he's a PF his mobility is good. If he were big enough and strong enough to just be a fulltime NBA PF, you would have no problems with his athleticism. But if he's got to guard a swingman type, its not so good. if you ask any Minnesota fan they'll tell you he can't stay in front of anybody. Now I actually have a little more hope than that. I think he's slow for a SF, but I think there are a lot of guys not that much smaller/that much slower who get it done adequately at that position. Even some top defenders like Deng...is he waterbug quick? Not really. So I'm hoping some of it comes down to mentality and motor as much as mobility. We'll see. Williams really was a PF. You pull him out on the perimeter where he's having to handle the ball on one end, and deal with quick ballhandlers on the other...well, we'll see. Was glad to see Malone's quote at least. We'll find out if he can hack it or not.
 
Keep your expectations low. I have the Wolves as one of my league pass teams. He is a freaking bum. The only thing he got going for him is his age, which is precisely why we took a chance on him.

His defense is a joke both at 3 and 4. Decent 4s with size will light him up in the paint. And faster 3s.. well... he just can't stay within 5 feet of them.

I'm not against this trade though. Moves like this are what teams lacking talent need to do.
 
Keep your expectations low. I have the Wolves as one of my league pass teams. He is a freaking bum. The only thing he got going for him is his age, which is precisely why we took a chance on him.

I'm not against this trade though. Moves like this are what teams lacking talent need to do.

Wait a second. How can anyone be called a "bum",....then also be someone we should have wanted to add to the team? o_O
 
I like the trade. MaM was a better fit for the team right now and helps a team with no shot at the playoffs win a few more games. Williams is an ill fitting piece with significantly higher upside who won't help us win games in the short term but could develop to help later, or develop to be more valuable later.

The risk of the trade is losing a few more games in a throw away season. (not a risk since we have one of the least talented teams in the league and need a top 5 pick)
As long as we don't lose Cuz to the losing, I'm happy with gamble trades like these. Wouldn't mind seeing some others shipped for picks.
 
People often confuse being able to jump with being an all around athlete. Williams can jump, and if he's a PF his mobility is good. If he were big enough and strong enough to just be a fulltime NBA PF, you would have no problems with his athleticism. But if he's got to guard a swingman type, its not so good. if you ask any Minnesota fan they'll tell you he can't stay in front of anybody.

Jared Dudley, Earl Clark and Draymond Green, Matt Barnes, Gallenari, Danny Granger , Caron Butler, Tayshanue Prince, Deng are all SF's who are considered solid-good defenders not one of them has the first step or explosion of Derrick and none are reall all that mobile and he's similar size/bigger than all of them. Also which one of those guys could he not defend?

Current starting SF's he could defend in terms of foot speed: Korver, Jeff Green, Wilson Chandler/Gallo, Deng, Dudley, Aminu (not a threat really), Earl Clark, Ariza, Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, Caron Butler, Marion, Tobias Harris and even the guys who has footspeed most are not good ballhandlers anyway such as Corey Brewer, Gerald Green and literally very few of the current SF's can overpower him like either

He's obviously not going to be able to defend the likes of KD,Durrant, Melo straight up but if they are on no one can, I have a hard time finding that many players his size/athletic ability would not allow him to defend and those guys he can't no one else can, I think people are thinking of players like Lebron, George, Melo , Gay (been terrible) and automatically assume the SF position is stack with elite ball handlers/athletes when really there's a lot of slow footed vets and guys with little to no handle.

Guys 1 on 1 most likely can't defend @ SF
Lebron, Gay, Melo, George, Batum, Hayward, Turner
 
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