We got to see Babbitt and Johnson in Summer League, but not Williams. What do we know about him? He's supposed to have a ridiculous vertical (48?) He's a small, skinny 2G who may have some PG skills (heard that one before) He played little in his one season at Duke, but Coach K liked his defense He was in the 2008 McDonald's game (as was Babbitt) whose MVP was Tyreke Evans He's been working out with Greg Oden. Anything else? Anyone actually seen him play? Is he bound for the D-League, or will he make Bayless/Rudy expendable (cue comments about how Rudy is already expendable)? Does anyone have high hopes for him, or was he an off-the-wall pick destined to see no PT and get traded?
I never watched him play for Memphis and although it's possible I saw him play for Duke 2 years ago I don't recall. Frankly, I don't think too many Blazers fans have much of an idea of what he can or can't do. At best I've heard people compare him to Russell Westbrook (The UCLA version, not the NBA version). My guess is that he'll take a few turns with the Stampede, just like Armon and Babbitt will, and will probably rack up 60+ DNP-CDs.
Wasn't this suppose to be a deep draft? I was actually hoping for something more with the first round pick but it sounds like Williams is a project. I don't get trading Webster for Babbit, drafting Williams then signing Matthews to a sizable contract. Maybe this is all a set up for a big trade . . . .it's going to suck if that big trade happens at trade deadline and the Blazers have to deal with this huge logjam for half a season. I also would hate to see Rudy traded for scraps when we can sweeten up the big trade with a player like Rudy. Cho's got his work cut out for him. Confident he will put the necessary work . . . but can he get a deal done?
Williams can jump high Williams is probably pretty smart because he attended Duke Williams is supposed to be a very good defender Williams supposedly has no jump shot A scout friend gave me, what I think is the greatest analogy. If Jerryd Bayless is Jarrett Jack on steroids, then Elloitt Williams is Jerryd Bayless on steroids
it makes a lot of sense to me. I've stated why a few times and others have said pretty much the same things so it's not like it's just me. One more time... Martell had proven to be a volume shooter who only excelled with big minutes. The younger Batum had proven to be better at most everything, so MW wasn't going to get those minutes at SF and with no handle he wasn't getting run at the 2. Matthews had proven to excel in a reserve role and was thought more capable of backing up the 2 and 3 spots so he was offered the MLE. This also took away a solid young rotation player from a division rival. Babbitt was drafted for his potential/upside, not his ability to contribute this year. Williams reportedly hurt his knee working out for the Blazers prior to the draft and fell to them... he's another pick made on potential/upside STOMP
I guess the real question then is, who is Eliot Williams on steroids, when do we draft him and has anybody ever actually posted a 60" vertical?
Elliot Williams also has human arms and not the T-Rex appendages Jerryd possesses. Besides, I'm fine with both of them on our roster.
Actually I heard he's got a really long wingspan ... which of course makes me think of this. Practices should be interesting this year. EDIT: I guess Fay Wray is a "basketball?"
I still think Webster could've gotten thirty minutes a night at 3 and been great with Batum getting 15 mpg at backup two (especially if Rudy is gone) taking advantage of his ballhandling ability. Plus Webster was getting a little burn at stretch 4 at times. I think we'll miss his size. The real trade off is Webster for Babbit AND Matthews (with his contract), not sure it's worth the increased price but we will see. Would love to see Webster playing for Sloan.
Unicorns were gay? So THAT'S why they died out. I think the relevant mythical creature is a short college shooting guard who learns to be a PG in the NBA.
Bullseye. Since Johnson's college performance also marks him as a bit of a Tweener, it seems a strange duplication of skill sets.
Thanks for doing that one more time, although to let you know I read your opinion before and just disagree with it. Williams makes no sense to me given that the Blazers star player plays that position, that the Blazers overpaid (by all accounts including the player) for Matthews whoose natural position is a SG and you alway have Bayless and Rudy who can play the SG position. In a deep draft to pick a SG with potential on a team loaded with SG doesn't make sense to me. We just see it different. But I also wasn't big on Bayless who "slipped" down to the Blazers as well.
