http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/williams_050815.html NEW YORK, August 15, 2005 – New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas announced today that forward Jerome Williams has been waived as the designated player for the amnesty provision under the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The provision allows a team to release a player and remove his contract amount from the team’s salary cap for purposes of calculating the luxury tax. The Knicks will be responsible for the remaining years of Williams’ contract and he is free to sign with another team. Williams, 6-9, 220-pounds, averaged 4.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 15.3 minutes in 79 games last season for New York. The 32-year-old Washington, D.C.-native has career averages of 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 587 games for four teams.
Yeah, I am a Jerome Williams fan. He would be an excellant pickup with the LLE. He is a bundle of energy every night. Great off the bench. If the Rockets waived Juwan Howard I would certainly look at Brian Grant or Jerome Williams to fill that void. If the Rockets dont waive Howard then I think we are set with Swift/Howard/{Baxter?} at PF. I am not sure there is as much of a need for Williams in that scenario.
According to this article - no - Allan plans on returning. Now if management is taking the high road and Allan realizes that it's just not working out, then he may also take the high road and retire. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-knicks-williamswaived&prov=ap&type=lgns Knicks waive Jerome Williams, save $21.3 million in luxury taxes August 15, 2005 NEW YORK (AP) -- Jerome Williams was waived Monday by the New York Knicks under the NBA's one-time amnesty provision, saving the franchise $21.3 million in future luxury tax payments. Williams, who had three years remaining on his contract, will continue to be paid and cannot re-sign with the Knicks until the summer of 2008. But in a sign that Williams' playing days could be over, the Knicks said they had offered him a position in scouting, community service or broadcasting. ``Jerome was a big asset in our rebuilding program, and he was great with our young players,'' team president Isiah Thomas said. ``But this was a tremendous opportunity to save more than $21 million.'' The decision showed New York remains willing to await the recovery of Allan Houston, who has two years and nearly $40 million remaining on his contract. The former Olympian and two-time All-Star played in just 20 games last season before chronic knee soreness sidelined him in mid-January. When the amnesty rule was announced earlier this summer, many believed it was a certainty that the Knicks would cut their ties with Houston, the longest-tenured member of the team. Some even nicknamed the amnesty provision the ``Allan Houston Rule.'' But Houston's close ties with Knicks owner James Dolan of Cablevision, along with incoming coach Larry Brown's history of coaching Houston with the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, helped factor into the decision for him to remain on the roster. <b>``He's working hard, trying to get back, and he believes one day he'll get back to his original form,'' Thomas said. ``This will be on Allan's timetable, and we'll stand behind him as an organization. ``When you have players that have been injured for some time, you have to find a way to move on and make the roster better. If Allan was to come back and regain his form, then it's an added bonus,'' Thomas said. </b> Williams, a nine-year veteran nicknamed ``Junkyard Dog'' and known for his defensive energy, averaged 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 79 games for New York last season. The Knicks have a glut at the power forward position, and Williams didn't figure into the mix that includes Michael Sweetney, Malik Rose, Maurice Taylor and rookie Channing Frye. Williams was acquired by the Knicks from the Chicago Bulls a year ago in the deal that brought Jamal Crawford to New York. His best season came in Toronto, where he was a fan favorite, when he averaged 9.7 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Raptors in 2002-03.
i agree 100%. even if Jho is kept I would like to see JYD signed for the LLE as a backup 3. i know he can't shoot, but he would be an upgrade over bowen.
Isiah's rolling the dice, but I'd put big money down that says he f-ed up. I *believe* they have Houston's word that if he can't suit up in Nov, he'll retire. However, Houston'll probably continue to refuse to face facts. Isiah manages to bungle up a loophole made specifically for him. Genius! Evan
http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/williams_050817.html Jerome Williams Announces Retirement NEW YORK, August 17, 2005 -- Less than 48 hours after the Knicks used the NBA’s amnesty provision on veteran forward Jerome Williams, the popular “Junk Yard Dog” announced he was calling it a playing career to pursue other interests. Williams, whose intensity and effort made him a fan favorite throughout the league, played in 587 games over nine seasons, averaging 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. “My days as the ‘JYD’ on the court as an NBA player are over, but I am looking forward to continuing all my offcourt work and keeping a promise to the kids of New York,” Williams said. Williams met with Isiah Thomas Wednesday morning at the team offices in New York and the two discussed options for the veteran forward to keep him involved with the team. In addition to doing some scouting work and learning the business side of basketball, Williams will pick up where he left off with MSG Network in the spring, working on a broadcasting career. He will also expand his community efforts and the extensive programs of his foundation (which he runs with his brother Johnnie), reaching out to kids of all ages and holding seminars using rap music to extoll the virtues of being a positive role model. “I made a promise to the kids of New York last spring that I would be back, and I do not want to let them down,” he added. The Williams brothers brought their motivational program to New York late in the season and into the summer, and will continue to run it here as well as in Toronto, Detroit and other cities. Williams is also producing a motivational CD which will be out this fall. If that will not be enough for the Georgetown graduate, he will continue to grow his Brooklyn-based business “212 Motoring,” which customizes and details cars. Williams added that he would not have retired had the amnesty clause not been used, and that he is healthy enough to have received a few offers from teams, which he instructed his agent, Lon Babby, to respectfully decline. Seems like for New Yorkers, the bark of the JYD may be even louder and more effective in retirement than it was during his nine NBA seasons.
I was unaware of Jerome William's community involvement. It's interesting how much respect I have for him over, say, Ron Artest. Guys like Artest or Sprewell who seem motivated by narcissistic impulses make me puke.
