Steinmetz blog: Getting Marcus Williams isn't a blockbuste..

Getting Marcus Williams isn't a blockbuster for Warriors but it's a
very nice move
POSTED July 22, 1:02 PM


Warriors president of basketball operations Chris Mullin pulled off
the kind of move on Tuesday that doesn’t cause much of a ripple
throughout the NBA.

He acquired point guard Marcus Williams from the New Jersey Nets for a
protected first-round pick. Big deal, right? Well, for the Warriors …
yes it is.

I guess I’ll just come right out and say it: I like this move; I like
Marcus Williams.

I like the kind of point guard Williams is and I think his style fits
in well with this team. I also think Williams’ acquisition will help
Monta Ellis, whom the Warriors are force-feeding the point guard
position.

Yesterday, the Warriors didn’t have a proven ballhandler/playmaker/
decision-maker on their roster. C.J. Watson, you say? I said “proven.”

They do now. I realize Williams averaged just six points and two
assists per game last year but keep in mind he played for the Nets.
What do they average: 81 points per game?

It’s no secret Williams will fare better in the Warriors’ uptempo
offense. He’s quick from one end of the floor to the other and he can
score and create just enough to keep defenses honest.

Williams will likely come off the bench most nights for Golden State,
although he’ll probably get a handful of starts, too, because coach
Don Nelson is given to changing the lineup one game to the next.

Williams played 16 minutes per game last year for the Nets, which will
probably be about what he plays for the Warriors. Williams’ mere
presence is a wonderful gift to Ellis, and should lessen the stakes
some when it comes to learning the point guard position full-time.

It is no longer all or nothing for Ellis at the point.

Getting Williams also means that Ellis is sure to play about half the
time at shooting guard, his best position by far and where he is most
valuable and effective.

Williams shot just 38 percent from the field last year, but he also
shot 38 percent from 3-point range. That would make him the best
shooter from beyond the arc on the Warriors.

You’ve heard all the point guard names before: Kirk Hinrich, Delonte
West, Jannero Pargo, Kyle Lowry, etc. Sure, Hinrich would have been
interesting, but the Warriors weren’t going to get him for Al
Harrington.

And as far as the others, I’d rather have Williams because he won’t
cost as much (still on rookie deal) and in the Warriors’ system could
very well be more effective than any of them.

Allen <lonewolfbear.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in news:1cc54c4f-99ac-40fe-9ac1-
260510ae29a7.TakeThisOut@79g2000hsk.googlegroups.com:

> the Warriors weren't going to get him for Al
> Harrington.

Speaking of Al, what ARE the Warriors going to get for him? Anything? I
wouild've been money that he was going to be gone after last year.

The Warriors are getting quite a makeover right now. That's exciting and a
little sad to me - just a reminder of why it's hard to be attached to any
particular pro ballplayer anymore.