I will bet you anything you like (of a monetary value up to $5) that Williams signed with us with the understanding that Olshey looks to trade him to a team like the Heat or the Rockets a month or two into the season. He only signed with us because we offered the most money, but there are much better places for him to be. If this is indeed the plan, then I approve, because it's good to get a trade asset and ease CJ in slowly. But if he's with us for the whole season I shall be a bit disappointed.
That's an odd sentiment that you would be disappointed in keeping a 30-year-old, former-all-star, still very capable, legitimate backup PG on a cheap contract for a full season.
As others have mentioned, with Williams experience, contact, skills and willingness to come off of the bench Im really confused what is not to like about this move. ??? The only minor concern is his size and that would be a problem in certain situations, on certain night and even then we can move Batum or even Claver to the SG for spot minutes as needed. I honesty wonder where your disappointment comes from?
I'll bet you anything up to a million bucks it wasn't to trade him to the Rockets. The Rockets have the same damn room exception as us THEY COULD HAVE SIGNED HIM YESTERDAY TO AN IDENTICAL CONTRACT. Sheesh.
Really? Oops! I wonder why they weren't interested, then. Maybe they want to find a taker for Lin first.
Okay, let me explain. Here's what we're most lacking: a true floor general who looks to get players involved other than himself first, and a defender in the backcourt. Here's what we already had: short scorers who are adequate passers, but not especially intuitive, and who are mediocre defenders at best. Mo is the latter and not the former. We need to decide what we're doing: are we really trying to compete? Then we need to shore up our deficiencies, especially defense. Are we trying to tank? Then we need to play the young players so that they learn while we lose (the "play Kevin Durant at SG" method). Mo Williams fits neither strategy. He fits the "let's just be good enough to crawl into the playoffs and fuck up our chance at a lottery pick" strategy. Meanwhile any minutes he plays will be taken away from CJ and Will Barton (and possibly Crabbe). Now, the latter might be a cause for cheering, but if he's on the roster, the only way he's going to improve is to get PT. Not only that, but he also takes away from Batum expanding his role and even from Aldridge getting the ball in a position to score, because, again, Mo is a shoot-first guy. Basically we didn't get the PG we need, we got ANOTHER tweener shooter. It reminds me of the Derek Anderson signing.
Felton 2011-12 $7,560,000 Crawford 2011-12 $5,000,000 Williams 2013-14 ~$2,600,000 Plus, neither of them were former all-stars, had comparable playoff experience to Mo, or were coming in for a clearly-defined backup role. Poor comparisons.
Trail Blazers @pdxtrailblazers .@mowilliams will wear No. 7 in #RipCity Dustin Hawes @DHawes22 Cue people whining about Mo wearing No 7 in 3,2,1... Mike Tokito @mtokito #Blazers will introduce Mo Williams at a 3 p.m.need conference today.
FYI, Mo Williams is 16th in career assist percentage among active players. If he's not enough of a passer for you, then your standards for a backup PG are WAY too high.
Trail Blazers @pdxtrailblazers .@mowilliams will wear No. 7 in #RipCity Dustin Hawes @DHawes22 Cue people whining about Mo wearing No 7 in 3,2,1. Yep, it's all over Twitter and Blazersedge already. People saying his number should be retired, kind of weird considering he never even got us out of the first round.
Anyone have any issues with Mo wearing number 7? Quite a bit of drama on twitter about it? I personally dont care but Im surprised at how many people do care.
I hate to say this, Rasta, but if the notion that the Blazers may be trying to tank this season is still rattling around inside of your skull, you need to sniff some smelling salts and wake up. The Blazers are going full tilt towards making the playoffs and trying to win a series or two. Your idea that the Blazers lack a "true floor general" also strikes me as out of date thinking. Most NBA teams are going towards athletic, scoring PGs in the mold of Rose, Wall, Irving, etc. Lillard and Williams are average or better distributors and premium scorers. They'll do just fine at running Stotts's offense. It's pretty obvious that the Blazers value shooting very highly and are probably looking to keep 2-3 3 pt threats on the floor at all times. Doubling on Aldridge or Lillard is going to be a costly strategy.
Fair points. But the Mavs (where Stotts came from) won when they had Jason Kidd, a "true floor general" of the purest kind. And I think Aldridge thrived most when he played with Andre Miller. (Oh, and if the Blazers think they're winning ONE series, let alone two, then... I guess they're hoping for injuries to the other team. Like, during the series. Like, MAJOR injuries.)
