Jay Williams Looking To Catch On To A Team... Cavs?

[Fundamentals]

Jay Williams on the comeback trail
by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Tuesday, June 7, 2005

News
Former No. 2 overall draft pick Jason Williams, who nearly lost his leg in a motorcycle accident in June 2003, is making significant improvement in an attempt to return to the NBA. "He can cut, run backward, and his lateral movement is good," Williams' business manager Kevin Bradbury told the Chicago Tribune after a workout with draft prospects Raymond Felton and Dee Brown. "He just needs to continue strengthening his leg to get all his speed back. But he's close."

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Obviously, Bradbury isn't the most objective observer, but according to the Trib, two eyewitnesses reported that he displayed good quickness and cutting ability. Williams would be a free agent and is hoping to be invited to an NBA training camp this fall. He is 23 years old.

Yahoo! Sports

Am I the only one who would be VERY interested in seeing what he can do? He was the #2 pick and showed some decent ability in the games that he played. If he is just looking for a a training camp invite, what would the team be out?

 

[LyXo]

He's a good possibility for us. He's still very young and has the potential we're looking for in a backup PG. Under Snow he can probably pick up a lot of defensive skills to complement his speed.

If we don't get into the top 10, then we should look to giving Jay Williams a second chance. It seems that he made some foolish decisions in the past, a la Kellen Winslow, but he probably turned things around and is focusing on basketball. We could probably sign him for pretty cheap and have a good PG to groom behind Snow. Whoever our GM is or will be should definitely take a look at this kid.

 

[LyXo]

I dug up some highlights from his 2003-4 season

Appeared in 75 games, making 54 starts in rookie NBA season with the Chicago Bulls. … Averaged 9.5 ppg (ninth among NBA rookies), 4.7 apg (leading NBA rookies and 27th in the NBA), 2.6 rpg and 1.15 spg (second on the Bulls), shooting .399 from the floor, .322 from three-point range and .640 from the free throw line. … Set Bulls all-time rookie record for three-point field goals, making 65 to rank third on the team. … Posted 36 double-digit scoring efforts, including six games of 20+ points. … Posted three double-doubles, including one triple-double. … Played 40+ minutes on two occasions and had 27 games of 30+ minutes. … Had 16 games with multiple three-point field goals. … Scored 13 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 33 minutes in his NBA debut at Boston (10/30). … Authored his first career triple-double, recording season highs of 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in 45 minutes versus New Jersey (11/9). … The game was the Bulls’ first triple-double since 1998. … Scored 20 points at Milwaukee

(11/13). … Scored 12 points with 12 assists versus Memphis (11/16). … Scored 10 points and swiped a season-high 6 steals at the L.A. Lakers (11/22). … Scored 14 points and dealt 13 assists with 5 rebounds versus Indiana (12/21). … Scored 23 points versus San Antonio (12/28). … Scored 20 points in 36 minutes in road victory at Cleveland (2/18). … Scored 23 points with 8 assists in 32 minutes off the bench at Philadelphia (4/2). … Scored 19 points with 7 assists in 28 minutes versus Milwaukee (4/5). … Missed two games with a sprained left ankle (1/6, 1/10). … Missed five games on the IL with a sprained left ankle (1/20-1/29).

Kinda sounds like a Ben Gordon type, but knows how to pass. He can be slowly worked into the lineup behind Snow to be a solid contributor alongside LeBron

 

[Slim Sheedy]

just offer him to summer camp or whatever, and see what happens.. We cant be hurt if we offer him and he fails...

At least it would be better than thinking what if? we did give J-Will a chance

 

[PIP]

i would give him a look with caution.

i remember watching several of his games his rookie season in which his defense was non exsistant, had poor shot selection, and didn't shoot that well.

the one thing he did have was EXPLOSIVE speed, and the ability to get to the basket..... if he didn't lose that ? perhaps give it a shot.

 

[CRWine+Gold]

Yea we definitely need the Kellen Winslow of basketball on our team. Two "captain curbchecks" in one city, hell no!

 

[King]

He would be a big risk. He almost had to get his leg cut off, which has to hurt his playing ability greatly since he depended heavily on his speed while he was healthy. It would be funny if we signed a guy who had almost career-ending injury after everything that happened with Winslow and the Browns.

 

[The Disector]

I don't want Jay Williams.
He wasn't anything special when he was 100% and I definitely don't want him after his accident.

 

[Dungong]

Whats the worst that can happen? I mean we've had Dajuan Wagner for 3 years or whatever. I don't think Jay Williams is going to command big dollars, and I don't really see much risk.

 

[Karma]

Well it is worth a camp invitation. If he plays well, then we may look at a 1 year deal at the veterans minimum. Is he the next bobby Hurley?

 

[Pioneer10]

I don't see the harm in trying to woo him to come over to our training camp. It's after all doesn't even mean you get a contract. I remember guys like Damon Bailey were in camps 10 years after their college careers were over. Low Risk/High Reward my kind of gamble

 

[PIP]

plus.... he has something to prove.... his motivation to get back might make him something special down the road..

i can just picture the espn story on THE FORMER ALL AMERICAN that about had his leg cut off- now is leading his team to the finals....

 

[NarlCavs]

I wouldn't guarantee him any money and I doubt he goes anywhere unless he gets a guarantee from the team.

I'm not sure if I'd bother with him. I can't see him ever becoming an NBA starter again and who knows if he'll even be able to make it for a long period.
Williams suffered major injuries in his accident. Far far worse than Winslow. Williams came close to having his leg amputated. His isn't a more common type of injury that players usually recover from. He also suffered major nerve damage. He's actually lucky he can even walk now.

At best he could be a backup PG at some point and wouldn't really do anything to solve the Cavs PG problems.

 

[Fundamentals]

I'm not sure I'd offer him a guaranteed roster spot, but even if they did it would likely be the veteran minimum.

Some people are reading me wrong on this. I'm not saying he is a cure-all for whatever ails the Cavaliers. All I am saying is that he showed some ability during his rookie year and if he is just looking for a camp invite it could be the Cavaliers that would offer him a chance to play and have a playoff possibility if he makes the team, an offer that most other teams likely couldn't match.

 

[TyGuy]

When i saw this thread i was thinking of the jason williams in memphis. I was like hmm i didnt know he was a fa! I say let him play on the summer squad like someone said above. There is no harm in letting that happen.