Suns Free Agent Mini Camp

[Folster]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/132782
From Coro's Orange Slices:

The Suns are holding a free agent minicamp Wednesday to take a look at their first-round pick, Markieff Morris, and a mix of undrafted rookies as well as pros who have competed in Europe or the D-League.
The most well-known name in the group is Sean Williams, the former first-round pick of New Jersey whose talent was offset by troubles that date back to when he was Jared Dudley's teammate at [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boston [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]College[/FONT][/FONT]e Williams, 24, reportedly improved his attitude and off-court behavior this past year with Nancy Lieberman's Dallas Legends D-League team. He averaged 14.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks while shooting 56 percent but most of the evaluation on him will have to be about his maturation. In college Williams had a marijuana arrest in 2005 and then was kicked off the team in 2007 for repeated rules violations that dropped his draft stock. New Jersey took him 17th but he only played 20 NBA games and spent time with D-League Colorado, where he was arrested for throwing a computer monitor at a cell phone store clerk in 2009 and was ejected from his second game.
In addition to the possiblity of more D-Leaguers, the workout will include pros who have played in Europe. Former Louisville point guard Edgar Sosa will participate after playing a season with Italian club Angelico Biella and former Temple swingman Dionte Christmas comes after finishing the European season with PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece.
The group of undrafted rookies will include Butler power forward Matt Howard, Washington power forward Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Colorado combo guard Cory Higgins and Tulsa shooting guard Justin Hurtt. Howard, coming from a San Antonio minicamp, and Hurtt also worked out for the Suns before the draft.
ADD: Ohio State swingman David Lighty also has tweeted that he is coming to Phoenix for a workout.
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Some interesting names. I liked Christmas coming out of Temple. He was a big time scorer, reminds me of Marcus Thornton. David Lighty a defensive 2 guard is intriguing as well. Sean Williams, if stable is worth a look as well.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

I'd be happy to give Williams a shot. Hopefully he has straigtened himself up because he could be a Josh Smith-type F for us....

 

[Folster]

From Draft Express dated: 1/17/11

[Sean Williams, 6-10, PF/C, Texas Legends

15.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 61 FG%, 69 FT%​

Matt Kamalsky​

Former first round draft pick

Sean Williams had a solid week on the floor, but the feedback we heard about him off it may have caught our attention most. On the court, Williams remains the same highly athletic defensive presence that he was in the college game, but word is that Williams has been a model citizen off the court for the Texas Legends. Becoming a first-to-arrive, last-to-leave type, Williams seems to have matured past the issues he had off the floor in the past to focus on his basketball career.

An effective complementary scorer thanks to his length and athleticism, Williams still hasn't developed a terribly polished post repertoire. However, he has shown that he hasn't lost a step as a rebounder and shot blocker. Whether he's rotating over from the weakside, defending the midrange, or crashing the boards, Williams makes an impact with his physical tools and energy. A top-call up candidate due to his terrific combination of size, athleticism, length and shot-blocking ability, Williams will earn himself a roster spot in the NBA sooner rather than later if he can continue to make good decisions off the floor.​

From DraftExpress.com​

http://www.draftexpress.com/article...l-Up-Candidates-Part-One--3616/#ixzz1Qbc6RZdE

http://www.draftexpress.com​

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I love it...we won't give a guy like Beasley a shot because of character issues, then bring in Sean Williams. Precious.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I love it...we won't give a guy like Beasley a shot because of character issues, then bring in Sean Williams. Precious.

Williams doesn't cost us a blessed thing. When would we not have given Beasley a shot?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Williams doesn't cost us a blessed thing. When would we not have given Beasley a shot?

Beasley was picked up for a 2nd round pick last year. That seems like a pretty low hurdle.

 

[Folster]

Beasley was picked up for a 2nd round pick last year. That seems like a pretty low hurdle.

Our second round picks were earmarked for Warrick and Childress...

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Our second round picks were earmarked for Warrick and Childress...

Again, acquiring an additional 2nd round pick or some other form of compensation seems far from impossible to get Beasley. I, among several others were advocating his acquisition last offseason. He would have been a far better addition than the Babby rejects.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Beasley was picked up for a 2nd round pick last year. That seems like a pretty low hurdle.

Two second rounders, which we did not have. He did make some progress this year, but looked like a bust before that. Plus he was getting paid early first round money on a guaranteed rookie contract. Again. The comparison is Beasley and Williams, not Beasley and Warrick etc. RFA's invited to camp are just "look see" candidates. Apples and Oranges.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm excited the Suns are looking at Dionte Christmas. I saw him play in college and I thought he had legitimate NBA talent. The Suns really need a SG. I think he could be a steal. Also Sean May would be a real plus as he plays FC especially if the Suns trade Lopez. If he has his life turned around... I like. I'll give the Suns credit for being proactive after a dull draft.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Two second rounders, which we did not have. He did make some progress this year, but looked like a bust before that. Plus he was getting paid early first round money on a guaranteed rookie contract. Again. The comparison is Beasley and Williams, not Beasley and Warrick etc. RFA's invited to camp are just "look see" candidates. Apples and Oranges.

You seem to miss my point. One or two second rounders is a small price to pay. I understand we didn't have them, but in lieu of the other horrific decisions that we made last offseason, keeping our second rounders that we spent on garbage, or acquiring several others (or some other form of compensation that Miami wanted) seems to be a achievable goal.

Further, perhaps you and I have different understandings of the word "bust". Averaging 16 and 6 before the trade hardly seems to qualify for that description. He also makes less than 5 million per year, which is significantly less than what we're paying Childress and not much for a young player of his talent. Compared to our sage offseason additions, (Turk, Childress, Warrick and Frye), he looks like a downright bargain.

Maybe you didn't read it, but I compared Beasley and Williams because the Suns have continually said they won't touch players with questionable character. Apparently, that policy has changed.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

would love to see sean williams turn his life around with the suns. who knows, maybe he's our birdman.

as for the others, i skerred Matt Howard will somehow make the team. i'd love to see us sign Matthew Bryan-Amaning as a project. he had some pretty good games against derrick williams from what i remember. david lighty also might have the moxie to get invited to camp.

 

[Cheesebeef]

would love to see sean williams turn his life around with the suns. who knows, maybe he's our birdman.

as for the others, i skerred Matt Howard will somehow make the team. i'd love to see us sign Matthew Bryan-Amaning as a project. he had some pretty good games against derrick williams from what i remember. david lighty also might have the moxie to get invited to camp.

no cardinals fan is allowed to use the word "moxie" as an adjective to support any athlete ever again after Max "Moxie" Hall of Shame.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You seem to miss my point. One or two second rounders is a small price to pay. I understand we didn't have them, but in lieu of the other horrific decisions that we made last offseason, keeping our second rounders that we spent on garbage, or acquiring several others (or some other form of compensation that Miami wanted) seems to be a achievable goal.

Further, perhaps you and I have different understanodings of the word "bust". Averaging 16 and 6 before the trade hardly seems to qualify for that description. He also makes less than 5 million per year, which is significantly less than what we're paying Childress and not much for a young player of his talent. Compared to our sage offseason additions, (Turk, Childress, Warrick and Frye), he looks like a downright bargain.

Maybe you didn't read it, but I compared Beasley and Williams because the Suns have continually said they won't touch players with questionable character. Apparently, that policy has changed.

Wasnt the Beasley trade last summer more about a salary dump than anything? I dont think we were in a cap position to receive salary without returning anything. As far as character issues, i am not interested in the suns trying to reform bad actors, but if a guy has already made big changes and getting his act together, i am all for giving him a look.

Fwiw I would love to have beasley here .

 

[Cheesebeef]

Wasnt the Beasley trade last summer more about a salary dump than anything? I dont think we were in a cap position to receive salary without returning anything.
.

what are you talking about? we had a HUGE trade exception that could have absorbed his contract... which we instead used on a complete piece of crap in Warrick and a completely uneccessary 72nd SF in Childress.

 

[Folster]

Here's a little taste of Sean Williams' talent in a single game against the Lakers.



If he can get his head straight. Wow! He kind of reminds me of Dumas. Just handcuff him to Grant Hill in between games.

 

[carey]

If he can get his head straight. Wow! He kind of reminds me of Dumas. Just handcuff him to Grant Hill in between games.

I laughed.

 

[Covert Rain]

what are you talking about? we had a HUGE trade exception that could have absorbed his contract... which we instead used on a complete piece of crap in Warrick and a completely unnecessary 72nd SF in Childress.

 

[Mulli]

what are you talking about? we had a HUGE trade exception that could have absorbed his contract... which we instead used on a complete piece of crap in Warrick and a completely uneccessary 72nd SF in Childress.

Beasley is pretty much a SF too, right?

 

[JCSunsfan]

what are you talking about? we had a HUGE trade exception that could have absorbed his contract... which we instead used on a complete piece of crap in Warrick and a completely uneccessary 72nd SF in Childress.

OK. Did we have the exception from Amare available at the time? I am sure you are right, I am just trying to remember.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Here's a little taste of Sean Williams' talent in a single game against the Lakers.



If he can get his head straight. Wow! He kind of reminds me of Dumas. Just handcuff him to Grant Hill in between games.

Don't see Dumas at all, but oh well. I would love to have him work out here. He looks sort of like the Anti-Warrick.

Sure would love to turn Warrick, Pietrus, Childress, etc into a starting 2 somehow.

 

[carey]

Don't see Dumas at all, but oh well. I would love to have him work out here. He looks sort of like the Anti-Warrick.

Sure would love to turn Warrick, Pietrus, Childress, etc into a starting 2 somehow.

I see former LSU great Stromile Swift.

 

[Errntknght]

I see former LSU great Stromile Swift.

Please, no!

 

[carey]

Please, no!

I know That's just what I see when I watch him play.

 

[leclerc]

Dumas had a terrific outside shot and more tricks than a New Orleans lady. They run kind of similar though. Dumas also was about 6'7 so the length is very different as well. Hope he's not like Stromile Swift though, I can see the comparison.

If we can turn Warrick, Pietrus and Chilldress into a solid SG and sign this Sean Williams cat then that would be a big improvement from where we are now. We're fine with Dudley, Hill and X at the SG and SF. Maybe pick up Edgar Sosa also?