Derrick Williams Thinks He Can Replace LeBron
2011-05-20
“I think I’m the No. 1 pick because I have more star quality I would think. I’m just a bigger person. Just trying to fill in for a big star like LeBron like they’re missing. That missing piece. I think that’s me.”
I think someone over at Ball Don’t Lie mentioned this yesterday, but: savvy move, Derrick Williams. There is a very slim chance he’ll be drafted number one, but playing up the whole “I’m not afraid of anyone or anything” persona is smart.
Well, Williams has stones. You can’t deny that.
In that same time frame of NBA champions, 3 times the finals MVP was a point guard (Thomas, Billups, Parker). There has only been one SF with the award (Pierce in 08). We’ll see how Lebron, Rose, and Durant affect those numbers this year. Next year’s draft will have a ton of good SG and SF/PF tweener prospects. In my opinion, none of the 2012 PGs will even be as good as Knight (let alone Irving) while there are many wing prospects on par with Williams (Anthony Davis, Harrison Barnes, Mcadoo). Yet I do think if Williams loses some weight… Read more »
And then keep your fingers crossed for Austin Rivers next year. THAT is a can’t-miss prospect.
How many teams where the PG was the best player on the team, did that team win the title? Not since the 89-90 Pistons. You don’t take a PG #1 overall. You can always get a guy like Irving through a trade or FA. Even if it means taking a chance on a guy who is more of a risk.
And no, Rondo was not the Celtics best player in ’08.
I would take the poor man’s Chris Paul over the actual Michael Beasley.
I think Williams is a great talent and we should definitely try to trade up to #2 to get him. However, I am a little worried about his demeanor given some of his combine quotes. He’s straddling a fine line between confidence and s*** talking. I love his determination but I’m also afraid that he might be more of a distraction than a leader.
Poor mans chris paul = kyrie irving
Pour mans micheal beasley= derrick williams
Poor mans chris paul over poor mans micheal beasley any day
^ you mean the RIGHTS to Rubio.
I feel like this is Oden Versus Durant all over again. The “conventional” wisdom of the day says take the point guard. But Williams just seems so much more solid than a guy who has to where a metal plate in his shoe permanently. I still say to pitch trading up to the 2nd to get both, or trade Irving and change (Maybe Miami’s #1 next year) for Williams and Rubio.
Williams would be an interesting pick. but the cavs already have a good enough power forward to take an even more undersized power forward. Besides, when building a team it is never smart to pass on a point guard. Point guards dictate the future of any franchise. And ill admit, i am not a HUGE fan of Irving either, mainly because the cavs already have a good point guard, and even if Baron Davis is not a long term solution, i still dont see Irving being the starting point guard at any point next year, unless Davis were to be… Read more »
Have we really seen any evidence that Derrick Williams can really play the 3 in the NBA? Because if he can’t he will be a severely limited player in a lot of ways. You hear a lot about his athleticism but he’ll need some quickness to be a player worthy of going #1, or else he ends up getting abused on defense and will struggle to get open. Could we be looking at an undersized JJ with a good jumper? That’s a decent player with some upside, but not a #1 pick type of player. Williams could be an awesome… Read more »
I can’t be the only one out there who thinks that a taking Williams and Knight would be less risky than Irving and Kanter/whomever. There’d be a whole lot less risk involved, at least from an injury perspective.
He would be one heck of an addition. The only two ‘sure’ guys in the draft are Irving and Williams. May not be a bad move to try to buy the #2 overall pick – maybe cash and the # 4 overall pick. I’d also like to see use the TPE for another pick or 2 around 7-9 (this draft may be cheap enough to do that). And pull of Burks or Kawhi. I actually like Burks becasue his ball handling and size makes him the perfect SG in our offense. Kawhi is a true SF and it’s still a… Read more »
Dear Derrick,
We’re not trying to replace Lebron. What makes you think Cleveland wants another Legone? We just want someone committed to bringing a championship to Cleveland. If you’re trying to get Clevelands attention, make that case, otherwise start looking for houses in Minnesota. Good luck with all that….
Sincerely,
Cavs Fan for Life
id actually prefer him over Irving
Am I the only one who wants Williams over Irving?