Williams Wants To Come Back

[George O'Brien]

July 19, 2004: While veteran center Scott Williams has been approached by other teams, he told Suns.com that his first choice is still to return to the Suns for the 2004-05 season. "This is my home," Williams said at Sunday's Mercury game "This is where I want to be."

The North Carolina product appeared in 85 games for the Suns the last two seasons before being traded to Dallas in January.

Suns.com

 

[The Commish]

good, he'll come cheap!

 

[coloradosun]

If Oliver Miller would ever lose weight and gain gray matter, I would not be opposed to having him around. I still remember his rookie year was when we went to the finals and I thought he would be around a long time. Too bad he turned out to be a head case.

 

[elindholm]

I really, really hope that no one in the Suns' front office thinks that Scott Williams is the answer to any problems.

 

[SweetD]

I really, really hope that no one in the Suns' front office thinks that Scott Williams is the answer to any problems.

I am sure that is not they know that. But for 1mil if we don't get anyone else I would say yes.

 

[TRW]

Suns.com

Just say NO at ANY cost. Scott is over the hill and way washed up. Dallas didn't even keep him on the playoff roster did they? He's done and needs to retire IMO.

There is NO answer at center left on the FA market. None.

 

[George O'Brien]

Trailor seems very likely. Williams is a possibility even if he is only on IR since he is a mentor to Amare. Neither are going to play much, but would provide SOME help in limited minutes.

 

[Chaz]

I really, really hope that no one in the Suns' front office thinks that Scott Williams is the answer to any problems.

I think Scott Williams is a last resort of sorts. He is a body that can give some minutes. He may not be a solutions for anything other than depth to give Lampe and Voskul (and Amare) a rest at center. Because there really may not be anyone better left if they do have to pay Q and a suitable trade does not develop.

I don't think we can realistically expect anything more than a playoff spot this season anyway. I think we have that this year as is. I think a little more patience is in order from some posters on this board (not necessarly you elindholm).

 

[fordronken]

What's the problem with Scott Williams signing for the minimum? If he sucks, he's still a great locker room guy to have around.

 

[Griffin]

If Richardson is not matched, we will already have 12 players under contract. There's no room for Traylor, Williams, Przybilla, or any other big man, unless you put Eisley or Vroman on IR. And didn't Williams want to leave last year because he wanted playing time? He won't get any this year either.

 

[JS22]

he left because he wanted to goto a contender.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think Scott Williams is a last resort of sorts. He is a body that can give some minutes. He may not be a solutions for anything other than depth to give Lampe and Voskul (and Amare) a rest at center. Because there really may not be anyone better left if they do have to pay Q and a suitable trade does not develop.

I don't think we can realistically expect anything more than a playoff spot this season anyway. I think we have that this year as is. I think a little more patience is in order from some posters on this board (not necessarly you elindholm).

if we don't get Q and this is our roster i think you're gettin' waaaaaaay ahead of yourself saying we've sewn up a playoff spot. yes, we improved with nash, but we also lost mcdyess, who was a valuable member of our "bigs" rotation, not to mention a contributor. and all that got us last year was second to worst in the western conference. now i know we'll hopefully have a full season from amare, and growth from all our youngsters (at least, i hope so), but to assume a playoff spot from a team that was really quite atrocious last year may be a bit too optmistic. i hope not, but fear so.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

he left because he wanted to goto a contender.

no, i think you're wrong. i think he wanted to play. i distinctly remember something about the suns offering him an asst coaching position or sumpin' and him saying he wanted to continue playing. we just made life better for him by getting him to a contender.

 

[Chaz]

if we don't get Q and this is our roster i think you're gettin' waaaaaaay ahead of yourself saying we've sewn up a playoff spot. yes, we improved with nash, but we also lost mcdyess, who was a valuable member of our "bigs" rotation, not to mention a contributor. and all that got us last year was second to worst in the western conference. now i know we'll hopefully have a full season from amare, and growth from all our youngsters (at least, i hope so), but to assume a playoff spot from a team that was really quite atrocious last year may be a bit too optmistic. i hope not, but fear so.

Well they were a competitive team to end last season, and McDyess was a big part of that. I think one of McDyess' biggest contributions was leadership on the floor that brought a little more calm and better execution. I think that will be filled with Steve Nash. The real deficit is the defensive boards and others on the team will have to step up and box out.

The other component offered by some is that the Suns were playing without pressure and this is true. They were however playing teams with playoff pressure and the Suns played well. The pressure can only be answered with the application of some. Expecting a playoff spot is a good place to start.

 

[fordronken]

no, i think you're wrong. i think he wanted to play. i distinctly remember something about the suns offering him an asst coaching position or sumpin' and him saying he wanted to continue playing. we just made life better for him by getting him to a contender.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1720587

No. Williams wanted to be in the playoffs. He said he still wanted to end up with the Suns after his career was over, but playing in the post season was important to him.

 

[George O'Brien]

If Richardson is not matched, we will already have 12 players under contract. There's no room for Traylor, Williams, Przybilla, or any other big man, unless you put Eisley or Vroman on IR. And didn't Williams want to leave last year because he wanted playing time? He won't get any this year either.

C - Voskuhl, Lampe
PF - Stoudemire, Vroman
SF - Marion, Carbakapa
SG - Johnson, Jacobsen
PG - Nash, Barbosa, Eisley

Looks like 11 to me.

 

[Griffin]

C - Voskuhl, Lampe
PF - Stoudemire, Vroman
SF - Marion, Carbakapa
SG - Johnson, Jacobsen
PG - Nash, Barbosa, Eisley

Looks like 11 to me.

I said if Richardson is not matched, although I'll concede that seems unlikely at this point. If Clippers do retain him, that leaves one open spot and I would not like to see Williams be the guy who gets it. If we have to bring someone back, bring back Big Jake, after all the time we invested in him already.

 

[George O'Brien]

I said if Richardson is not matched, although I'll concede that seems unlikely at this point. If Clippers do retain him, that leaves one open spot and I would not like to see Williams be the guy who gets it. If we have to bring someone back, bring back Big Jake, after all the time we invested in him already.

Big Jake is an RFA at $2.3 million. This is too much already and the Grizzlies are likely to match.

One guy that we have not discussed is Chris Mihm. He's an RFA at $3.9 million. He's been an underachiever for most of his career, but he is 7'0 and 265. When he was in Cleveland, he averaged 6.4 rpg this season in only 17.8 minutes and shot 48.8% for the season.

Boston just added Al Jefferson to go along with LaFrentz and Stewart at PF. My guess is that Boston might not match considering how many guys they have with guaranteed salaries.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1720587

No. Williams wanted to be in the playoffs. He said he still wanted to end up with the Suns after his career was over, but playing in the post season was important to him.

okay.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Big Jake is an RFA at $2.3 million. This is too much already and the Grizzlies are likely to match.

One guy that we have not discussed is Chris Mihm. He's an RFA at $3.9 million. He's been an underachiever for most of his career, but he is 7'0 and 265. When he was in Cleveland, he averaged 6.4 rpg this season in only 17.8 minutes and shot 48.8% for the season.

Boston just added Al Jefferson to go along with LaFrentz and Stewart at PF. My guess is that Boston might not match considering how many guys they have with guaranteed salaries.

hmm, mihm might not be a bad short-term gamble. i really thought he'd be better (like 13pts 8-9 rebs) coming outta college. i've been surprised by his lack of productivity.

 

[Joe Mama]

How much do you guys think it would take to get Lonnie Jones away from Cleveland? He played very, very well for them on their summer league team. He actually reminded me a little bit of Marcus Camby with his length, build, and shot blocking skills. I would be at least as excited about him as I would be about Scott Williams, Joel P., Big Jake, etc.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

How much do you guys think it would take to get Lonnie Jones away from Cleveland?

Maybe not much at all. I'm pretty sure I saw him on the roster for a second summer-league team, i.e. not the Cavaliers.

 

[Joe Mama]

Well, at least with the massive hole in the middle the Phoenix Suns should be a hot spot for these lower tier free-agent centers for training camp and preseason. When the Clippers match Richardson's offer there's going to be a lot of pressure on the Suns to make a move for a center. I just hope they don't do anything drastic and stupid. At this point even Traylor is looking like he is going to cost a couple million dollars.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Well, at least with the massive hole in the middle the Phoenix Suns should be a hot spot for these lower tier free-agent centers for training camp and preseason. When the Clippers match Richardson's offer there's going to be a lot of pressure on the Suns to make a move for a center. I just hope they don't do anything drastic and stupid. At this point even Traylor is looking like he is going to cost a couple million dollars.

Joe Mama

The New Orleans papers say the Hornets are working to re-sign Trailor and he is being mentioned going to Cleveland as well.