Thursday, April 14th, 2011 at 2:38 pm  |  31 responses

Arizona’s Derrick Williams Enters NBA Draft

The man behind Arizona’s run into the Elite 8 this past season is now NBA-bound. Derrick Williams, who many consider the top big-man in this year’s draft class, announced yesterday his decision to leave school after two seasons with the program. The 6-8 forward averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 59% from the floor, and was named the PAC-10 Player of the Year.

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  • Charles

    Come on Raptors.

  • burnt_chicken

    Raptors would love this guy. But i’m resignedly confident they’ll grab a big Latvian instead.

  • http://redoftoothandclaw.ca/ niQ

    If the Raptors SOMEHOW get the top 1 or 2 pick. I will be celebrating for either Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams (and Barnes if he enters the draft…). But it kind of drops off after the first 2 picks. If not the mentioned, I guess I could settle for Kanter or Knight…

  • Jer dawg

    I’m not sure what he translate into at next level. 6’8″ small forward? He can play. Reminds me of Beasley how he seems like a tweener, but if he CAN play small forward and can guard the 3 spot then he’s good. It just seems like I’m not sure which position he’ll play.

  • Eddie

    Divad Nrets

  • http://www.slamoline.com Max

    Nooooo, hope you don’t end up with the Cavs boi.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Top 3 pick, especially with Sullinger and Perry Jones not entering

  • http://slamonline.com Ghost

    Jer Dawg, my thoughts exactly.

  • Kevin

    He’s still a top three pick with Sullinger and Jones in the draft

  • CONEY ISLANDER

    That dude is a beast!

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    I don’t know why he can’t be the top pick. Definitely would take him over Sullinger if he was coming out this year. Which I still think he might.

  • http://www.slamonline.com c_cantrell

    i would for sure take sullinger over williams.. but i dont know about jones.. thats a close race in my opinion

  • T-Money

    If the GM taking him has some visions and realizes that he’s the next Paul Pierce (impressive bag of tricks, not ripped but strong, can play slow and still dunk on anybody), he’ll be a star. If they try to play him at the 4 full time, he’ll fail miserably. It’s been done before: Wilson Chandler and Q-Rich come to mind, they were 4s in college.

  • T-Money

    I think I’d take Irving over him (CP3-lite is still very, very, very good). Sullinger is fat. Fat big men don’t have a good track record in the NBA historically – unless a Big Baby-like career is what you would consider success.

  • http://redoftoothandclaw.ca/ niQ

    Was Shaq ever considered a Fat, big man?

  • http://www.slamoline.com Max

    ^ Not at the start of his career..

  • blakos

    Derrick Williams to Washington. Trade Blatche. Lets do this

  • BillyQ

    I think this kid will be a bust. he is not athletic enough to guard the 3 spot and to small to be a 4.He will have a solid career and he was great in college but i don’t think he will have the career expected of a top 3 pick.

  • add

    he can be a 4, just look at thad young he’s undersized but he’s to quick for guys taller than him and he can handle smaller guys. williams looks like a strong, versatile player.

  • Klaustophobik

    @BillyQ you are bugging out dude if you seriously think he is not athletic enough… if anything he is just like iguodala

  • http://slamonline.com The Black Rick Kamla

    ^^^^ nothing like Iggy. Nowhere near as quick. He probably can guard the 3 depending on the matchups, but safe money for him is the 4. I think say a bigger Gerald Wallace or something like that a tweener forward. It has worked and still can. Derrick Williams will have success in the proper system.

  • http://itsahardwoodlife.blogspot.com omphalos

    There’s a reason Thad Young isn’t starting though.

  • http://www.slamonline.com c_cantrell

    ^Klaustophobik..
    slap yourself for sayin that bro

  • k Dub

    Derrick Williams will be a solid nba player compare him to a more athletic Micheal Beasly

  • http://www.slamonline.com c_cantrell

    ^but he is not more athletic than Be Easy..

  • T-Money

    Dude is a 3! The handle is there, the J is money. Yeah, he won’t be as quick as Bron but who is? And yes, he’s more athletic than SuperCoolBeas.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    You guys are making athleticism and quickness mutually exclusive and thats not the case. No way you could have watched that Duke game and say this kid Williams is not athletic. He may not be the quickest guy around, but that doesn’t mean he;s not athletic. Unless Sullinger gets on a weight program he’s not gonna cut it in the league. He is NOT athletic and he’s about 1 Big Mac away from obesity.

  • Klaustophobik

    dfrance21 thats exactly what i meant… I dont believe he is as good as Iguodala but based on the tournament the world saw he was athletic as shit… there should be no doubt that his athleticism couldnt transfer to the league so c_cantrell you should smack yourself for that one

  • Klaustophobik

    @dfrance21 that is exactly what i meant… after the ncaa tournament the world saw that he was athletic as shit. So how can ya sit around and assume idiotically that his athleticism wouldn’t transfer to the league. Anyways, I didn’t necessarily mean that he was as good as iggy, I was just referring to his athleticism.

  • http://www.slamonline.com c_cantrell

    il say once again.. no he is not more athletic than beasley.. he is athletic yes, but not more so than beasley

  • Jarvhitz

    i think he is more athletic than Beasley, but no where near as POLISHED(beasley was st8 to the league, if he did’nt have to play a year in college)……i think D. Williams will be a better defender too

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