Jason Williams Signs with Clippers

[Irish]

http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/jwilliams_080807.html?rss=true

Thursday, August 7, 2008
Clippers Sign Free Agent Guard Jason Williams


The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard Jason Williams, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

A veteran of 10 NBA seasons, Williams joins the Clippers after playing the last three years for Miami, where he helped the Heat to the 2006 NBA Championship. Williams, 32, has played in 679 career regular season games and averaged 11.4 points, 6.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds for a total of three teams. The six-foot-one, 180 pound point guard has also started and played in 53 career playoff contests, averaging 9.8 points, 3.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 0.9 steals.

“Jason is an experienced and proven player,” Baylor said. “He is a terrific ball handler with great passing ability and court vision.”

Playing alongside new Clippers teammate Ricky Davis with the Heat last season, Williams averaged 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 28.1 minutes while appearing in 67 games. The West Virginia native finished eighth in the league with a 3.37 assists per turnover ratio and 12th with a 0.91 steals per turnover ratio.

“We are excited to add Jason to our squad,” Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. “He brings added veteran leadership and playoff experience to our backcourt.”

Drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 1998 following his junior year at the University of Florida, Williams was named to the 1999 NBA All-Rookie Team following an electrifying first season that saw him average 12.8 points and 6.0 assists. Over the next nine seasons, Williams has emerged as one of the most dependable point guards in the NBA, averaging double-figures in scoring and at least five assists per game in eight of his ten years in the league.

Williams moved to Memphis for the 2001-02 season and over the next four seasons became the Grizzlies all-time assists leader and all-time leader in three-point field goals attempted. Williams joined Miami prior to the 2005-06 season that ended with an NBA Championship. The Clippers new-look roster now stands at 14 players as Los Angeles has revamped its roster by adding a total of 10 new faces for the 2008-09 season.

Could someone correct the title. It is mispelled and indicates the wrong Williams.

 

[Andrew]

Damn.

 

[Irish]

I'm surprised Jason took that offer, which appears to be Vet Minimum. It looks like he is counting on Baron breaking down (not that bad a bet).

 

[arwillan]

so another team in the west (and in our division, nonetheless) gets better while we wait for a point guard who may or may not make us better and who is going to cost more than most second rounders. greeeeeat.

 

[damo]

Who'd of ever thunk that the clippers front office would make our front office look so inept?

 

[carey]

Seems like the Clippers are signing everybody. Also I don't see where it's a veterans minimum deal.

 

[95pro]

i'll be damned if jason signed for the minimum.

now who's left?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Time to go young and unproven!

 

[arwillan]

Time to go young and unproven!

detroit already picked up kwame brown, sorry

 

[JCSunsfan]

I think its fairly clear that our mgmt team was not interested in JWill

 

[okhoops]

Time to go young and unproven!

I'm starting to think that this is the plan: the young guys (Strawberry and, by the looks of it, Dragic) need quality minutes behind Nash to develop. I love what Detroit has done with Stuckey, Amir Johnson, and Jason Maxiell. I'm not sure that either of the Suns' young prospects has the potential of Stuckey but there's only one way to find out. If either or both flop, there is always a mid-season trade with a team falling out of the playoffs. The options are dwindling daily.

 

[Mainstreet]

Maybe the Suns should not have Shaq help pursue players for Phoenix.

His track record of late does not appear good. It didn't help with Lue and it didn't help with Jason Williams... if that is who the Suns wanted. I'm now of the opinion the Suns have put all their eggs in one basket, Dragic, although I wouldn't mind signing Cassell for the minimum. I think if the Suns want to pay more money in LT, they want to spend it on Dragic.

 

[KloD]

I'm pretty sure the Clippers are still plenty under the cap. I doubt the deal is vets min. I'll guess it's a one year deal somewhere between 2-3 million.

I hate teams that won't give the numbers, they obviously come out soon after anyway... what gives with that?

 

[AceP]

There is no report regarding the detail of the deal, wait a few days for that. It is probably not a veteran minimal since the Clippers r way under tax threshold. I think it should be close to a 3 years 10m deal.

 

[tobiazz]

I'm pretty sure the Clippers are still plenty under the cap. I doubt the deal is vets min. I'll guess it's a one year deal somewhere between 2-3 million.

I hate teams that won't give the numbers, they obviously come out soon after anyway... what gives with that?

Maybe they wait until the trade is approved by the league office or something so that some other team can't swoop in and offer slightly more. That's my best guess.

 

[arwillan]

There is no report regarding the detail of the deal, wait a few days for that. It is probably not a veteran minimal since the Clippers r way under tax threshold. I think it should be close to a 3 years 10m deal.

i doubt they gave him 3 years. he is old and had injury issues as it is. maybe 2 years, but i don't think 3 would be plausible.

 

[dodie53]

is Dragic coming to Phoenix or what?

 

[Irish]

It's hard to know what the Clipper's exact status is, but here's what I've got.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/la_clippers.htm
http://www.storytellerscontracts.info/resources/08-09salaries.htm

http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/contracts

Los Angeles Clippers Date # of total
Player signed years salary misc FA
Paul Davis ............ 7/13/06 2 minimum '08
Nick Fazekas .......... 2/27/08 1 minimum '08
Quinton Ross .......... 8/16/04 4 $2.8 million '08
Marcus Williams ....... 3/28/08 1 minimum '08r
Ricky Davis ........... 7/28/08 2 ??? p-opt '09
Jason Hart ............ 7/13/07 2 $5 million '09
Steve Novak ........... 7/26/06 3 minimum '09
Brian Skinner ......... 7/31/08 1 minimum '09
Marcus Camby .......... 7/16/04 6 $57 million '10
DeAndre Jordan ........ 7/15/08 2 minimum t-opt '10
Cuttino Mobley ........ 8/3/05 5 $42 million '10
Mike Taylor ........... 7/15/08 2 minimum t-opt '10
Tim Thomas ............ 7/13/06 4 $24 million '10
Al Thornton ........... 7/5/07 4 $8,142,916 rc t-opt '10+11
Chris Kaman ........... 7/12/03,10/29/07 4+5 $11,214,368+$52.5mill '12
Eric Gordon ........... 7/2/08 4 $12,290,944 rc t-opt '11+12
Baron Davis ........... 7/10/08 5 $65 million '13

 

[95pro]

Quinton Ross .........
Ricky Davis
Brian Skinner .........
Marcus Camby ..........
Cuttino Mobley ........
Tim Thomas ............
Chris Kaman
Baron Davis ...........
Jason Williams

they got some okay guys now. im always for the underdog(az cards, clippers lol)
hopefully they can string them together and surprise some poeple(not the suns of course).

 

[Irish]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/29675

Cross off J-Will

If Goran Dragic is not able to come to Phoenix this summer, the Suns can no longer turn to Jason Williams to fill the backup point guard role.
Williams' agent, Bob Myers, informed the Suns today that Williams will sign a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers for what is believed to be the veteran minimum.

Williams, 32, had the eighth best assist-to-turnover ratio in the NBA last season (3.37 to 1) in 67 appearances for Miami.

My hope is that J-Will's camp concluded the Suns WILL sign Dragic and this would push Williams down the rotation.

 

[AceP]

I'll be pretty much pissed off if Jwill indeed take just veteran miminal to join the Clippers ... Now let's hope Dragic really come this year.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

It's hard to know what the Clipper's exact status is, but here's what I've got.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/la_clippers.htm
http://www.storytellerscontracts.info/resources/08-09salaries.htm

http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/contracts

I believe they waived the rights to Fazekas. Dont quote me though!

 

[Joe L]

Los Angeles Clippers Date # of total
Player signed years salary misc FA
Paul Davis ............ 7/13/06 2 minimum '08
Nick Fazekas .......... 2/27/08 1 minimum '08
Quinton Ross .......... 8/16/04 4 $2.8 million '08
Marcus Williams ....... 3/28/08 1 minimum '08r
Ricky Davis ........... 7/28/08 2 ??? p-opt '09
Jason Hart ............ 7/13/07 2 $5 million '09
Steve Novak ........... 7/26/06 3 minimum '09
Brian Skinner ......... 7/31/08 1 minimum '09
Marcus Camby .......... 7/16/04 6 $57 million '10
DeAndre Jordan ........ 7/15/08 2 minimum t-opt '10
Cuttino Mobley ........ 8/3/05 5 $42 million '10
Mike Taylor ........... 7/15/08 2 minimum t-opt '10
Tim Thomas ............ 7/13/06 4 $24 million '10
Al Thornton ........... 7/5/07 4 $8,142,916 rc t-opt '10+11
Chris Kaman ........... 7/12/03,10/29/07 4+5 $11,214,368+$52.5mill '12
Eric Gordon ........... 7/2/08 4 $12,290,944 rc t-opt '11+12
Baron Davis ........... 7/10/08 5 $65 million '13

Paul Davis ............ 7/13/06 2 minimum '08
Nick Fazekas .......... 2/27/08 1 minimum '08
Quinton Ross .......... 8/16/04 4 $2.8 million '08

These guys are no longer on the books.

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

The Clippers are looking to be the Heat's dumpsite

 

[msdundee]

I think its fairly clear that our mgmt team was not interested in JWill

Since his agent called to 'inform the Suns,' it seems fairly clear that they were indeed interested but JWill was not. The message being sent loud and clear to this franchise can't be denied any more, and it should be very disturbing.