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Logjam At Small Forward In Twin Cities

NBADraft.net comparison: David West/Michael Beasley

My comparison: Poor Man’s Version of Glenn Robinson

Strengths: Williams’ production in his 2 years at Arizona were phenomenal, as he managed to improve on his excellent Fr. stats across the board … In terms of physical tools, Williams has very good size for a combo forward, boasting a very strong 6’9 248 lb frame with a long 7’1 wingspan added for good measure … Very fluid and smooth athlete, who also flashes explosiveness leaping off of 2 feet … A true matchup problem for defenders, Williams uses his strong footwork and soft touch to score the ball with very good effectiveness in the post or facing up … His shooting ability is good, as evidenced by his 57% 3-point percentage (albeit on a limited 2 attempts a night), and he uses it to keep his matchup honest so they can’t play off of him … Also functional from mid-range, as a threat to slash or shoot … One of the best isolation players in the entire draft, as PF’s have big trouble with his rangy first step and body control for a guy his size, and SFs are generally at a disadvantage in terms of their size and strength … Has an ease at which he creates shots from the PF spot that will continue to make him a big threat from that position, and his size is certainly adequate enough to play down low too.

Fairly decisive finisher down low, who uses his wide lower body to seal in good position to get the pass and go up with shots before the defense collapses on him … Works hard moving without the ball, and isn’t indifferent to throwing his body in his man down low to establish very deep position … Although he’s not likely to seal NBA PF’s as much as he did in college, he also can post from mid-range and utilize quick spins and turnaround moves to use his dribble drive game to his advantage … Understands how to shield defenders using his body off the dribble … Strong finisher, who will at times slip free of the D around the rim and make emphatic dunks as a 2 footed leaper … Very capable finisher with both hands … Pretty easy shooting stroke with a soft touch and compact fundamentals that are very consistent … Pretty good offensive rebounder due to his quick 2nd bounce and solid motor, and will get high percentage shots every game due to this … Won’t take very many bad shots, which is a great sign due to the go-to role he embraced for 2 years … Got to the foul line a lot due to his ability to be a mismatch, shot an OK percentage (74%) once there, and this aspect of his game will very likely translate to the NBA as well … Super efficient, and scored 19.5 ppg on just 10 FG attempts a game … Ability to develop from a fairly unheralded recruit, to a surprisingly productive Fr., then to improve on a great Fr. season across the board as a Soph. speaks to his work ethic, and he still can make improvements on his weaknesses right now to continue to grow … Showed the ability to step up in big situations with kep plays to win games.

Weaknesses: Considered a combo forward, and there are some questions about what position he will defend with the most effectiveness … Insists that he sees himself as a SF more than a PF, but he has never really played SF dating back to HS, and would certainly be a shaky defender against NBA SF’s … Hard to see him being as efficient and effective if he plays more SF than PF, although he certainly will be able to play some legit time on the wing … Was a pretty modest defensive player in college, as his lateral quickness is mediocre and his length is just OK, which are respective problems for the SF and PF positions … Definitely has wavering intensity on this end, and will allow baskets without much resistance around the rim, particularly against the bigger, more athletic PF’s he faced … Wasn’t that great a defensive rebounder (5.5 a game) and will ball-watch, and gives up rebounds on the defensive end that give offenses 2nd chance opportunities at times … Although he generally is decisive, Williams struggles at times with defenders crowding him and is pretty turnover prone when he gets collapsed upon … Doesn’t look to pass the ball very much … Saw limited minutes at times in games due to foul trouble … Won’t be a big threat in the passing lanes or blocking shots at the NBA level.

Overall: Was the catalyst in knocking off the defending champion Duke Blue Devils with his tremendous performance in the 2011 NCAA tourney … Williams’ blend of size and his pure talent scoring the ball on offense will make him a viable option in the NBA. His ability to be a matchup problem at the NBA level offensively will make him a coveted prospect in this draft, as today’s NBA covets mismatch PF’s who can score at Williams’ level. He’s not a great rebounder and he’s not a very good defender, but he does have the body to hit the glass with solid effectiveness and his fundamentals on D aren’t bad. Williams will go on to have a productive NBA career, particularly offensively.

My Take: If I’m Minnesota I would be on the phone right now with Utah talking about trading Williams.  Give me Paul Millsap, or even Devin Harris, and Enes Kanter for the Arizona forward and #20 pick.  Where’s Wes Johnson going to play?  You already have the real Michael Beasley.  Better yet, “Big Dog” Robinson without the bark?  At best, he’s a #3 scoring option on a contending team.