Jason Williams for the minimum?

[GroverTheClover]

I know injuries have been a part of his career and that was apparently the reason he retired. However, this article on SI.com seems to suggest otherwise.

Williams signed a one-year deal with the Clippers last August, which prompted L.A. to stop pursuing a backup for Baron Davis, an important job as the Clips envisioned a playoff push, only to have J-Will claim retirement just before camp opened. Later in the season, he decided he wanted to play again.

Nice try, Favre.

The NBA rightfully blocked the move, saying it would take a unanimous vote of the Board of Governors to be re-instated during the season, lest anyone else get the idea to (cough, cough) retire to jump a commitment, and added that the Clippers would have the first chance to sign Williams if he wanted to play again. So many restrictions were put in place that teams could be charged with tampering just for calling his agent, Dan Tobin.

Last Friday, the Clippers waived their negotiating rights. Williams will become a free agent this Friday, assuming he clears waivers, and joins the free-agent market about a month behind everyone else.

Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/scott_howard-cooper/07/30/point.guards/index.html?eref=sihp

So, now that it seems that Williams faked his injury to get out of his contract with the Clippers, does this assauge our collective fears about him not having anything left in the tank?

His last season playing, in 07-08 for Miami showed him playing in 67 games, averaging 8.8 ppg, and 4.6 apg and shooting a putrid 38% from the field and 35% from 3.

We know he can be a playmaker and seemed to earn Pat Riley's trust in guiding the Miami offense, so is it a good idea?

[celticinorlando]

white chocolate

[Roy Hobbs]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

[GroverTheClover]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

You know, actually, the more I think about it, the more I start to question my own thoughts posted in the thread. I'm not so sure I'd like a guy who "retired" in order to weasel out of a contract. I'm not so sure that's a good guy to have on your team. On the other hand, he did do it because he signed with the Clippers and probably realized the gravity of his error.

[Chris]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.  For all his troubles shooting, Marbury was actually decent running the offense and playing defense.  The problems came from him not being able to hit the broadside of a barn with his perimeter shots.  Since Williams was always a significantly worse shooter than Marbury (especially from midrange), even in their prime, I would not assume he would be any better after the missed time.

Williams is also a couple years older than Marbury, and has likely lost even more of a step.

So yes, Williams could in fact be worse than Marbury was.

[P2]

If not Marbury, I would like him here. I think he can't do anything wrong in 5-10 MPG.

[Roy Hobbs]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.  For all his troubles shooting, Marbury was actually decent running the offense and playing defense.  The problems came from him not being able to hit the broadside of a barn with his perimeter shots.  Since Williams was always a significantly worse shooter than Marbury (especially from midrange), even in their prime, I would not assume he would be any better after the missed time.

I'm talking about "current Starbury".  The one who screams at fans and openly breaks down into sobs.

As for which one is the better shooter, Williams has a higher career eFG%, and his shooting over the last 3 to 4 seasons has been significantly better.  They also have nearly identical "assist per 36 minutes" rates for their career.

[celticinorlando]

just one more day left and then uniform #13 becomes available for the celtics

[GroverTheClover]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.  For all his troubles shooting, Marbury was actually decent running the offense and playing defense.  The problems came from him not being able to hit the broadside of a barn with his perimeter shots.  Since Williams was always a significantly worse shooter than Marbury (especially from midrange), even in their prime, I would not assume he would be any better after the missed time.

Williams is also a couple years older than Marbury, and has likely lost even more of a step.

So yes, Williams could in fact be worse than Marbury was.

Eating Vaseline in front of hundreds of thousands of people isn't exactly demonstrating that you want a new contract. I highly doubt the Celtics are still interested in Marbury. I guess I should have made it more clear in the original post that I was operating under the assumption that Marbury isn't coming back.

[Fafnir]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.  For all his troubles shooting, Marbury was actually decent running the offense and playing defense.  The problems came from him not being able to hit the broadside of a barn with his perimeter shots.  Since Williams was always a significantly worse shooter than Marbury (especially from midrange), even in their prime, I would not assume he would be any better after the missed time.

Williams is also a couple years older than Marbury, and has likely lost even more of a step.

So yes, Williams could in fact be worse than Marbury was.

Marbury also couldn't finish at the rim.

[guava_wrench]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.  For all his troubles shooting, Marbury was actually decent running the offense and playing defense.  The problems came from him not being able to hit the broadside of a barn with his perimeter shots.  Since Williams was always a significantly worse shooter than Marbury (especially from midrange), even in their prime, I would not assume he would be any better after the missed time.

Williams is also a couple years older than Marbury, and has likely lost even more of a step.

So yes, Williams could in fact be worse than Marbury was.

Eating Vaseline in front of hundreds of thousands of people isn't exactly demonstrating that you want a new contract. I highly doubt the Celtics are still interested in Marbury. I guess I should have made it more clear in the original post that I was operating under the assumption that Marbury isn't coming back.

In his defense, he thought Vaseline eating would help his throat. Crazy medical beliefs are common all over the place, whether it be homeopathy, praying for the sick, or chiropractors giving medical advice.

[Chris]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.  For all his troubles shooting, Marbury was actually decent running the offense and playing defense.  The problems came from him not being able to hit the broadside of a barn with his perimeter shots.  Since Williams was always a significantly worse shooter than Marbury (especially from midrange), even in their prime, I would not assume he would be any better after the missed time.

I'm talking about "current Starbury".  The one who screams at fans and openly breaks down into sobs.

Ah, fair enough.  I wasn't trying to compare Marbury and Williams as much as saying that perhaps it is not a great idea to rely on yet another aging veteran, who wasn't even THAT good in his prime, after a long layoff.  Right now, they are 0-2.  I am not really going to assume that the third one is going to be any better.

[Chris]

He can't be worse than Starbury, right?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.  For all his troubles shooting, Marbury was actually decent running the offense and playing defense.  The problems came from him not being able to hit the broadside of a barn with his perimeter shots.  Since Williams was always a significantly worse shooter than Marbury (especially from midrange), even in their prime, I would not assume he would be any better after the missed time.

Williams is also a couple years older than Marbury, and has likely lost even more of a step.

So yes, Williams could in fact be worse than Marbury was.

Eating Vaseline in front of hundreds of thousands of people isn't exactly demonstrating that you want a new contract. I highly doubt the Celtics are still interested in Marbury. I guess I should have made it more clear in the original post that I was operating under the assumption that Marbury isn't coming back.

I wasn't trying to make a case for Marbury.  Just making a case against Williams.

[MrTripleDouble10]

I was listening to the marathon podcast with Simmons/Bucher/Stein, and Bucher (I believe it was him) said that the Celtics were going to sign Jason Williams.

Simmons was essentially questioning how well Rondo will play this year since "Ainge threw him under the bus for the entire month of June."

Bucher quickly (and perhaps half-jokingly) said: "Well they're going to sign Jason Williams, so it's ok."

Take it for what's it's worth...

[paintitgreen]

I would be in favor of signing Williams. He played pretty well right up until his retirement.

For what it's worth, and I can't verify whether it's true, but Williams said last week the reason for his retirement was that his wife was pregnant and "it wasn't going smoothly." Most likely a convenient excuse for not wanting to play with the Clippers, but that's his rationale.

I think he'd be a competent guy to bring in and really good to have in case of emergency.