May 25, 2013

Cavaliers to Host Derrick Williams for Workout Today

June 14, 2011 by 16 Comments

Ensuring that all of their bases are covered heading into next week’s NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers will play host to Arizona forward Derrick Williams Tuesday morning in Independence.

Owning the first- and fourth- overall selection in the upcoming draft, the Cavs will have at least one crack at selecting the Wildcat forward who rose to a level of national prominence following his team’s win over the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils in the 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Averaging 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this past season, the knock against the high-scoring forward is that his skill set translates to that of an NBA power forward with the ability to hit mid-to-long-range jump shots.  Garnering comparisons to New Orleans’ David West, Williams will likely endure a litany of tests to see if he could in fact play a small forward role for the Cavaliers, vastly increasing his value and keeping him in the discussion with Duke’s Kyrie Irving at the top spot on the team’s draft board.

A confident 20-year old, Williams has gone on record to say that he is the “most NBA ready” of his peers and that he would “get back at any team” which would choose to pass him up at the June 23 draft.  Likely going in the top two spots, there is a slim chance that Williams could still be available at fourth overall in the event that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz choose to avoid bolstering their already-deep power forward slots.

The 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pound Williams has obviously heard his detractors state their take on his future position, and insists that he is in fact a small forward who can merely play the power forward position if needed.

“I am a small forward that can play the four,” Williams said at the recently held NBA combine. “I am not going to shy away from going into the post if I have a mismatch—that is what I did this season. I had a lot of mismatches—slower guy, I take him outside and drive past him; smaller guy, I am going to be able to post him up.

Continuing their due diligence on other wing players, the Cavaliers held a workout for small forward Kawhi Leonard and shooting guard Alec Burks on Monday. Both players are anticipated to be selected within the top 10 come next Thursday. As stated in the WFNY Podcast last Friday, it is largely anticipated that the Cavaliers – given their large holes at the position – use at least one of their four upcoming selections to address the small forward or shooting guard position.

–

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Related Posts

Zemanta
Filed Under: Cavaliers Tagged With: , ,
  • Vengeful Pat

    I agree with you Derrick Williams… I think you’re a small forward in the NBA. I think you have the same mobility, dribbling skills, and size as Shawn Marion, who has been predominantly a small forward for his career. Except, you shoot better than Marion, which could easily make you a more successful player. I also like your drive… it’s exactly the type of drive to show your worth that a certain other small forward has never possessed.

  • theherd10

    On a side note, anyone else tired of hearing about athletes “getting back” at teams that pass them over? Akili Smith comes to mind. Why not just play your best for the sake of playing your best? Mini-rant over.

  • Nate_4

    I still think that somehow the Cavs are going to end up with Irving and Williams if that’s what they really want. I can’t help but think that Minnesota is going to do something incredibly stupid. Their franchise has been a mess for a decade and selecting PG’s back to back was the epitomy of stupidity. I know we still have the Jazz in front of us, but I’m thinking we can trick the T-wolves into a trade.

    That being said I would be very happy to end up with Irving and Kanter, as well.

  • mgbode

    and let’s not forget that not only did the Twolves draft 2 PGs in the top6 of the 2009 draft, but they still have a hole at PG (w/ no real knowledge of if Rubio can or is even willing fill it).

    here are the PGs who went ‘after’ their picks:

    Stephen Curry (if you call him a PG)
    Brandon Jennings
    Jrue Holiday
    Darren Collison
    Ty Lawson
    Eric Maynor
    Roddy-B

    also, the Twolves selected Ty Lawson and then traded him to the Nuggets (deal wasn’t finalized until the pick had been made).

  • mgbode

    if we end up with Irving and either Kanter or Derrick Williams, then I will be happy.

    still haven’t seen anything that makes me really excited for Jonas-V, but obviously the Cavs FO has seen much more than the few minute youtube clips that we have.

    if Detroit does end up trading us their pick w/ Rip, then I would love if we somehow ended up with: Irving, Kanter, Burks. That’s a nice combo right there (i doubt Detroit gifts us that pick though)

  • Lyon

    I like the kid’s confidence, but not sure I’m ready to use a high pick to shoehorn a player into a position. Still not sold on his ability to play outside. Yeah he played well outside last year, but that was being guarded by PFs. If he’s a SF in the league, the guys are going to be more athletic than that. Is he going to be able to get his shots off that way?

  • Lyon

    I’m with you mgbode on Jonas V. Haven’t been impresssed by youtube clips & am always wary of Euro picks. But if the FO has put in the amount of scouting that everyone has reported, I’ll believe in them.

  • Greg

    So if the Cavs draft him at #4, will he get back at the Cavs for not picking him #1?

  • Vengeful Pat

    @Lyon, I guess I don’t see that as being an issue. Players usually only take outside shots when they’re open, unless they’re Dirk or Kobe, in which case they have learned to create the space and shoot fading away… I don’t see any reason by Williams couldn’t learn to do that, he doesn’t shy away from contact. If you were worried that Williams wouldn’t be able to hold his dribble well enough against small forwards or that he would have a harder time getting position on them or that he’s not mobile enough to run around screens, then I would understand your point better (and would ultimately disagree with you), but purely from a shooting standpoint, he should have an easier time shooting over small forwards than power forwards.

  • Lyon

    @Pat – I don’t see his ball handling being great, but in reality it has to be serviceable to get around his main, so that’s a moot point.

    He doesn’t seem like the come off a screen player, so it doesn’t matter how athletic he is, that’s not his game.

    And in reference to getting his shot off, I didn’t clarify my point. He may be able to shoot over the SFs, but if he isn’t fully capable of playing the SF position, he may be catching the ball with a man in his face already. Then he has to use his adequate ball handling skills to create space and get open.

    Can he do this? I don’t know. But my basis for thinking he can’t (as of now) is that he was guarded by the bigger PFs in college on the perimeter. Being guarded by NBA SFs will be a lot different to deal with.

  • Lyon

    I don’t want to come across as nitpicking on the guy, just want to point out why I don’t want him as the #1 pick. Just don’t think he’s a guaranteed SF. Now if he’s there at 4 I’m fine with it b/c he’s clearly in the top 2 and would be a steal.

  • http://chrisserafino.com Cris S

    I think he is an explosive 3. Remember he is 20 years old. He has a lot of time to develop a perimeter game.

    I don’t see how you pass on a player as gifted (athletically) and as driven as he is.

    He’s not quite in the Blake Griffin neighborhood, but he has that same mold of explosiveness and motor.

    Not sold on Kyrie Irving as a number 1 pick.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    Why is a WR from PSU visiting the Cavs.

  • Chucky Brown

    I fully believe this guy can play the 3 in the NBA, his shooting is more then serviceable for the position and his athleticism is top notch

    @#8 -good stuff

  • bobby

    Didnt he shoot 57% from 3 last year? Ya, I think he can play the 3. The Cavs need someone who can score and Williams can definitely do that. I just get bothered by everyone anointing Irving Chris Paul status when he only played 8 games at Duke. Williams on the other hand played 2 full seasons and showed considerable improvement between seasons and was huge in the clutch.

    Now, I am torn on who the Cavs should go for on the 23rd. Should they get Irving and Kanter that is 2 solid pieces for the future, and while they will be better probably end up in the lottery next year again (unless they trade for a significant piece with the TPE). I think you need to be big in order to win it all and Kanter, AV, JJ and Erden could provide that. But if they have a chance to get a player who could avg 25 points and 8 boards how do you pass it (in Williams)?

  • saggy

    i like Williams, and then take your chances with a Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker. I like Irving, but I don’t think he is THAT much better than Knight or Walker that you pass up on a chance to grab Williams.

    Enes Kanter? Really? Pass.