Williams still hopes to sign with Suns

[scotsman13]

Williams still hopes to sign with Suns
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 16, 2004 12:00 AM


Scott Williams was exactly where he expected to be Wednesday. Back home in the Valley after a vacation in Mexico, Williams played on the Suns practice court during the team's informal workouts.

This time, it's on his own time and dime. Williams no longer looks like a possible roster addition. The Suns do not plan to offer any more guaranteed deals before training camp opens in 19 days.

"My thought was I would've been a signed Sun by now," Williams, 36, said. "Unfortunately, that hasn't worked itself out. I'm talking to a couple other teams, but my hope is something will work out here in the 11th hour."

The former Suns center said he realizes his hope may be based on naíve optimism. Five of Phoenix's 14 players under contract could play center.


"I thought I would've got a guarantee or partial guarantee, but that's not the direction they want to go," he said. "This is where I belong. The Suns know I'd be here to help their players in whatever capacity I could. I still think I can help as a veteran center who mentors, teaches and can be a sounding board for younger players."

If not, Williams said he can feel good about leaving the game with plenty of savings, three championship rings (he started his career with the Chicago Bulls in 1990) and good health after 14 seasons

 

[elindholm]

Five of Phoenix's 14 players under contract could play center.

Emphasis on "could." Why not just say all fourteen?

 

[scotsman13]

hunter, jake and lampe are all true centers in size and all of them are bigger then williams. while amare and vroman can also play time at center.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Five of Phoenix's 14 players under contract could play center.

Emphasis on "could." Why not just say all fourteen?

LMAO yeah.

 

[George O'Brien]

Last season the Suns carried six inside guys: Stoudemire, Voskuhl, Lampe, White, McDyess, and Harvey and only six outside guys.

As it stands now, unless they use an SF on the inside, the Suns will have five inside guys and seven outside guys on the starting twelve plus two outside guys on IR.

The ratio changes if by some miracle they can trade Eisley for an inside guys. Otherwise, the Suns are a twisted ankle from playing 25 minutes of small ball.

 

[elindholm]

Otherwise, the Suns are a twisted ankle from playing 25 minutes of small ball.

It's even worse than that. They'll also be forced into huge stretches of small ball once they realize that Hunter, Lampe, and Vroman don't merit spots in the rotation.

It's going to be a very small season. The sooner we Suns fans face up to that, the better.

The primary lineup will be Stoudemire/Marion/Johnson/Richardson/Nash. My guess is that we'll see that lineup pretty much automatically whenever the Suns fall behind early, as they inevitably do. And I can almost guarantee that it will be the default group for crunch time.