Williams weighing options
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 25, 2004 12:00 AM
MINNEAPOLIS - Suns veteran Scott Williams wants to make one thing clear: He isn't demanding a trade.
In fact, the NBA's collective bargaining agreement doesn't allow the Suns to trade their reserve center, who is on the injured list with back spasms.
But that doesn't mean that Williams wouldn't welcome a chance to play with a contending team before the season is over.
"I'm kind of walking a fine line right now," Williams said. "We're working through a process to see what opportunities lie for me within this organization or outside it. My thing is, I'm very happy here, very comfortable. But I'm a competitor, and I want to play.
"They're going young, and I understand that. I couldn't be happier being here working with the young guys, but at the same time I realize I have a limited window of playing years left in me, and I'd like to try and maximize that as much as possible."
The Suns offered Williams a coaching position, and he initially accepted it. Then after sleeping on it for a night, he changed his mind and decided to continue playing.
He can't be traded because this is his second season with the team, and because of his years of service in the league, he is classified as an "Early Bird" free agent this summer. A player in his second or third season with a team who is about to be a free agent can't be traded.
It's a quirky rule that is working against Williams' agent, Arn Tellem, and the Suns, who would like to work together to make Williams happy.
"Scott is a tremendous asset to this basketball team," Suns President/General Manager Bryan Colangelo said. "He deserves the opportunity to play if he feels that's the direction he wants to go. It may not fit immediately with our team, but we'll do everything we can to accommodate Scott."
The only other option is for the Suns to waive Williams. That's risky from Williams' standpoint.
"That's one thing I have considered with my agent," he said. "The thing that's great here is the organization will do what's best for me and the team, and we have an open line of communication. It's not like I'm unhappy here and I want to go someplace else.
"But being in a situation where I'm not going to play on a poor team away from my family isn't acceptable at this point. And if I'm waived, I could be picked up by anybody. It has to be a right fit for me. If I'm going to sit someplace, I'd rather sit right here in Phoenix."
That's where Tellem will come in. An agent usually can work with teams to ensure that they don't pick a player off waivers who isn't going to be willing to play for that team. Because Williams has a standing offer to be an assistant coach, Tellem has additional leverage.
At least two teams might make sense. One is the Los Angeles Lakers, who are short-handed because of injuries. Williams played for Lakers coach Phil Jackson in Chicago and would fit immediately into the club's triple-post offense.
The second is the Dallas Mavericks, who are in the market for a veteran big man. Williams, who can hit the midrange jump shot, would fit nicely on the offensive end. He would give them a low-post defensive presence as well.
"We'll try to explore everything we can to accommodate Scott, whatever is best for him," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.
Williams appreciates it.
"My ultimate goal at the end of all this is to be a Phoenix Sun," he said. "Regardless where I finish playing, I'm going to retire as a Sun. I want to make sure I handle the process appropriately with the media, my teammates, coaching staff and organization so I don't jeopardize that."
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