<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After getting a call from the Nets hours after the NBA draft and then doing well in the Orlando Summer League, Eric Williams looked to have a good shot at making the Nets...and the rookie minimum of $412,000. Now, with four rookies--including two big men, likely to have guaranteed contracts, the 6'-9" behemoth might have only an outside shot. In a July 28 interview, Williams says he is willing to take that outside shot...about 500 times a day</div> Source
If we have room for him, why don't we just sign him and have him there just in case? We could always use another big man...
I remember Eric Williams signed here in 03-04 to be closer to his family, but the Nets just went and traded him for Vince Carter. He couldn't get any burn on the Raptors for some reason, but he's still able to produce on defense. He was good in the locker room and stepped it up in the absence of Kidd. If the Nets can get him cheaply, then why not?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">I remember Eric Williams signed here in 03-04 to be closer to his family, but the Nets just went and traded him for Vince Carter. He couldn't get any burn on the Raptors for some reason, but he's still able to produce on defense. He was good in the locker room and stepped it up in the absence of Kidd. If the Nets can get him cheaply, then why not?</div> You got the wrong Eric Williams. Eric Williams from Wake Forest, not from the Raptors.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NbaBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">You got the wrong Eric Williams. Eric Williams from Wake Forest, not from the Raptors.</div> Nevermind then. For some reason I'm thinking he's a free agent or something.
In an earlier post I lamented what I believed was a regrettable error of talent assessment by the Nets orgaznization in not bringing Williams to training camp to compete for the last couple of roster spots at forward. He's a bigger, better shooting, better rebounding and more disciplined and enthusiastic team player than for example Lonny Baxter. No one can guard him in the paint and after four years at Wake Forest where (and you can go back and compare the stats) he outplayed Sheldon Williams and Sean May and Cedric Simmons and all of the other ACC front court players. Granted he is not currently a threat to step out and knock down the 15 to 18 foot shot consistently. But on a team with Kidd he would be a tough cover. I was not surprised, just disappointed to see the Nets bring in a 7'2" project and another mediocre center to back up the front court instead of going with a well-educated, well-coached, All-ACC performer who had to be double-teamed in college to keep him from scoring at will. And he's a heck of a rebounder and can play defense. He can get into foul trouble, but what big, strong player doesn't who's not protected by the League's refs? He will be in the NBA for the next decade and a half, but hopefully not for the Nets. As in every profession, the more you learn about the people in decision-making jobs, you realize why some organizations succeed consistently and others do not. Any pro basketball afficianado could draft a decent team after observing the talent. But the talent judges who are "scary" good (watch the movie "The Recruit" with Al Pacino for a good definition of a "scary good" judge of talent) make far fewer misjudgments and the teams fortunate enough to have them are regular playoff contenders who snare a good player whether they are picking first or 31st.
