Nets' Williams chases another long reboundBy FRED KERBER
Last Updated: 7:01 AM, October 6, 2009
Posted: 2:00 AM, October 6, 2009
The Nets happily grabbed Sean Williams with the 17th pick in the 2007 draft, looking beyond his checkered history and seeing Rodman-like potential in the6-foot-10 jumping-jack forward with the flexible, shot-blocking wingspan.
Now, as he prepares for his third pro season, Williams is playing for his NBA career. The Nets have until Oct. 31 to pick up Williams' contract option andit is likely, almost certain, they will pass. His contributions and potential have been overshadowed by a perceived laissez-faire attitude and a series of baddecisions that landed him, among other places, in anger management classes.
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"Everybody knows I have the skills to be effective as a player, but they worry about my professionalism," said Williams, who is second -- second! --in seniority on the Nets behind Josh Boone. "A lot of other people worry if I can be a professional on and off the court. They're asking, 'Is heaccountable and responsible?' And I'm trying to focus on that.
"Getting ready for my third year, I'm going to take the experience I've had in the past and build on it," Williams added in his mostpolitically correct tone. "I just want to fit in and help this team any way I can to get to our goals."
Above all, Williams wants "consistency," something the Nets have sought since he came out of Boston College, where he had been thrown off thebasketball team for marijuana offenses. The Nets gambled, and though there have been flashes of his ability -- like eight blocks in one game as a rookie --there haven't been enough. At the open scrimmage on Saturday, he outplayed Yi Jianlian. On Sunday, in the preseason opener, he fouled out in 14 minutes.
"He's actually played very well," team president Rod Thorn said. "Last year, he played pretty good. This year, he's played the bestI've ever seen him play. [Saturday] he was fantastic."
But Williams' pre-Season Three surge probably will not be enough to sway the Nets to keep him. They first recall him being arrested in phone store insuburban Denver or his utterly unacceptable behavior when he was dispatched to the D-League. Essentially, Williams has two strikes and is facing a Marianocutter.
"The only thing I'm trying to concentrate on is proving myself as a professional in this league," said Williams, who is seeking a backupforward-center job with the Nets. "I like this team. I know I'm a good person and every day I try to get better. That translates to everything in yourlife when you're trying to be a better, positive person."
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buzz digg reddit fark it facebook rss The Nets happily grabbed Sean Williams with the 17th pick in the 2007 draft, looking beyond his checkered history andseeing Rodman-like potential in the 6-foot-10 jumping-jack forward with the flexible, shot-blocking wingspan.
Now, as he prepares for his third pro season, Williams is playing for his NBA career. The Nets have until Oct. 31 to pick up Williams' contract option andit is likely, almost certain, they will pass. His contributions and potential have been overshadowed by a perceived laissez-faire attitude and a series of baddecisions that landed him, among other places, in anger management classes.
NETS BLOG
"Everybody knows I have the skills to be effective as a player, but they worry about my professionalism," said Williams, who is second -- second! --in seniority on the Nets behind Josh Boone. "A lot of other people worry if I can be a professional on and off the court. They're asking, 'Is heaccountable and responsible?' And I'm trying to focus on that.
"Getting ready for my third year, I'm going to take the experience I've had in the past and build on it," Williams added in his mostpolitically correct tone. "I just want to fit in and help this team any way I can to get to our goals."
Above all, Williams wants "consistency," something the Nets have sought since he came out of Boston College, where he had been thrown off thebasketball team for marijuana offenses. The Nets gambled, and though there have been flashes of his ability -- like eight blocks in one game as a rookie --there haven't been enough. At the open scrimmage on Saturday, he outplayed Yi Jianlian. On Sunday, in the preseason opener, he fouled out in 14 minutes.
"He's actually played very well," team president Rod Thorn said. "Last year, he played pretty good. This year, he's played the bestI've ever seen him play. [Saturday] he was fantastic."
But Williams' pre-Season Three surge probably will not be enough to sway the Nets to keep him. They first recall him being arrested in phone store insuburban Denver or his utterly unacceptable behavior when he was dispatched to the D-League. Essentially, Williams has two strikes and is facing a Marianocutter.
"The only thing I'm trying to concentrate on is proving myself as a professional in this league," said Williams, who is seeking a backupforward-center job with the Nets. "I like this team. I know I'm a good person and every day I try to get better. That translates to everything in yourlife when you're trying to be a better, positive person
