Another solid player. Plays his heart out, good defender... solid offensive player... can play the 3 or the 4. I think he would be a great pick up. The word is he wants out of Toronto, and I dont blame him. Your opinions? Toronto Star And though the Raptors didn't need another twist in their sordid saga, Williams delivered a zinger last night. Frustrated that his playing time has diminished to zilch, the highly touted veteran acquired in the Vince Carter trade said that he has demanded a trade through his agent. "I need to get out of here, man," Williams said before the Raptors' 110-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. "If I'm not going to be a part of this team, I can go anywhere else and help a team out. I can go to New Orleans and help them out." It was a harsh indictment of a wobbling NBA franchise, and not only because Williams was suggesting he'd welcome a job with the league's worst team if it meant leaving the Raptors. Williams' words have weight because he's one of the NBA's solid citizens, a 10-year veteran not prone to shooting off his mouth, a guy who, when he was acquired in the Carter trade, was feted by Raptors GM Rob Babcock as the "the type of (person), character-wise, that we want in our program," praised as "team-oriented" and "tough" and "professional on the court and off the court." The player Babcock was describing ? the player who averaged 35 minutes a game for the Nets while shooting 47 per cent from the field and 42.5 per cent from the three-point line ? hasn't been seen in Toronto, and Williams says it's simply a matter of opportunity. He's averaging 19.9 minutes per game with the Raptors. But ever since he was demoted from the starting lineup after a controversial 16-game run as Jalen Rose's replacement, he's been used less and less frequently.
problem is, now that the whole league knows they were raped for Carter - their GM is fairly unreasonable when it comes to trades
Toronto needs to get rid of it's bad eggs. That could be a decent franchise with just a few more moves. Unfortunately, those start at the top. Bosh is nice, though, and it'll shake out after this summer. Eric Williams is an unremarkable player. Nice guy...not much else. Sort of like Devean George. A tall three without a jumpshot. If Toronto deals a malcontent, you'd think it would be Alston or Rose, with maybe a pick for sweetener. They will do something with Marshall, and that will set the domino's falling. His price is supposedly crazy high right now, but they have to do it by the deadline or get nothing. I'd take either bad egg if we can dump Maurice. You can play those guys a little, and then trade them again later if necessary. If we can turn Mo into a more trade-able asset, it's slightly better than a lateral move. Maybe we can use whatever we get for Mo in a later trade to help at the 4. PROBLEM - they don't need Mo. He'd be an overpriced backup, again. So - look to see how things shake out after the first wave of trades. He's really a better fit in NJ, LA, Boston. Let's wait and see.
The thing is, Eric Williams isn't a bad egg. The guy has carved out a career using hustle, defense and intensity. Picture Ryan Bowen with 5x the offensive game. He would be a perfect small forward for this team. Stuart
Agreed,Eric is a veteran that brings defense and rebounding to the 3/4 .He would be cheaper than Marshall and perhaps an even better fit.
Problem is that Eric Williams contract is too friendly: $12 million for 3 years. So, for Toronto to take someone we want to be rid of, they'd need to add someone. And, I wouldn't be interested in trading someone who was actually contributing.
Houston trades: PG Charlie Ward (5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.1 apg in 25.7 minutes) PG Reece Gaines (2.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.3 apg in 10.8 minutes) Houston receives: SF Eric Williams (8.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.4 minutes) Change in team outlook: +0.7 ppg, -0.4 rpg, and -1.6 apg. Toronto trades: SF Eric Williams (8.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.4 minutes) Toronto receives: PG Charlie Ward (5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.1 apg in 25.7 minutes) PG Reece Gaines (2.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.3 apg in 10.8 minutes) Change in team outlook: -0.7 ppg, +0.4 rpg, and +1.6 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED Due to Houston and Toronto being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Houston and Toronto had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
E Williams would be a perfect fit here. He is long and athletic, two areas in which we are sorely lacking. You get this kind of guy under JVG and, bam, he is an elite defender. Period. He can also comptently knock down a jumper. (not a dead eye, but decent enough to be respected) He is the kind of guy that Memphis has stockpiled. This is the kind of guy that we need to match up with Rashard Lewis, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Peja, Ginobli, Kobe, even Novitski. How do we get him? I don't see them wanting MoTay, Howard or Spoon. I'd offer up our first round pick in 2006 plus players (like gaines, etc) and see if they bite.
i LOVE eric williams, hes a cool guy, very friendly. he hustles his ass off on the court, hes big, great defender and he has a solid offensive game not sure what we have to offer for him though, they would not be interested in taylor at all.
Eric Williams is one of those guys that can come to a team and help out immediately. He's a long swingman who's made a career out of hustle and defense. Not sure if Toronto would want anything we have. But if the Suns picked up McCarty for a 2nd rounder, maybe we can do the same for Williams, hell, throw them Gaines or Ward or both.
I don't think getting Eric Williams would have any effect on whether we get Swift or not. Swift is a FA this summer so it's going to come down to money, something I'm not sure the Rockets will have enough to get him. I think the only good chance we have at Swift is through a sign & trade.
Trade MoT for NJ Nets Trade Exeption! That will help us with the sign and trade for Swift. Though I'd think the Nets would want our first rounder to go along with it...
I'd deal Ward in a heartbeat for him...but no reason Toronto would do that, they aren't getting a contract that's going to expire anytime soon. I still can't believe we signed a guy that old with little game left to a long deal. He should've been a cheap one year rental ala Mark Jackson/Rod Strickland.
I thought we already had a Trade Exception? What exactly is a Trade Exception and how does that work?
He would make a perfect backup for the 3 and the 4... he can play D, shoot high % shots, and most importantly can Defend. He's got a reasonable contract, and I believe he can be had for the right price. I'd be willing to give up a first round for him. He will be productive or the next 3-4 years. CD get on it.
Williams would fill that Bowen-type positon (spelling Tmac and being there for defense, etc.) ... and it would be nice because he is about 25 times better thnat Bowen - ah well... wishful thinking
