http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1852753 3 years at 12M is not too bad for Williams if you ask me. Too bad the Rockets weren't in the mix for him. Nets add forward Williams to mix ESPN.com news services Free agent forward Eric Williams has agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract to join the New Jersey Nets, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN Insider's Chad Ford on Thursday. Williams, a 6-foot-8 small forward, is considered a defensive specialist and will be counted on to replace some of the rebounding and defense the Nets lost by trading Kenyon Martin to Denver. He averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 26.6 minutes last season for the Celtics and Cavaliers.
Good Deal for the nets though interesting because Jefferson plays the same position. Eric Williams is a very good player and becomes the 2nd player this offseason to sign a reasonable contract. The other being Arroyo.
What was his FG% last year? 25% He is a tough defender and good locker room presence, I will give him that.
They're also expected to sign Mercer. If they had dumped Kidd for Walker, traded for Walter McCarty and as a bonus brought in Pitino to coach... voila! Celtics '97
That is well over half the MLE--probably more than he is worth given his age and offensive limitations. I'd liked him for 2 years/3.2 mil (mil exemption) or maybe 3 years/7 mil (leaving more than half of the MLE for a PG or back up C), but not for the amount he got and our other holes needing plugging first.
I agree with you in that New Jersey probably should of spent its money in a position not alread occupied by an all-star. But the money is about right. When his contract runs out he will be just about to turn 35, so he isn't that old. He is a great defensive player and a great locker room presence from what i have heard. And watching him play you can tell he has offensive skill. He is very good at scoring in the post. problem is he takes too many perimeter shots, granted that wasn't his fault in Boston because they led the league in threes and it was just a large part of their game plan. He can shoot the three, but he is average at best from the 3.
