Welcome Derrick Williams

[buzzdog]

I don't want to see Derrick Williams get meaningful minutes in this series. Especially not with RJ finding his groove.

The value in Derrick Williams will be next season--especially if we can sign him for cheap. He can replace RJ's role, and give us improved athleticism off the bench. And then, next year's playoffs will be his chance to prove himself. For now, we're stashing him away as a future bench player, I think.

1) Although RJ has found ways to contribute by being physical and scrappy on defense, and by making intelligent cuts to the rim for high percentage buckets, to say that he in any way has "found his groove" is a huge stretch. He can't hit a perimeter shot if his life depended on it, and his confidence in his shot is so bad he has all but quit even attempting to shoot from outside. He has gotten some open layups but he doesn't look like he can attack the rim with any force due to an apparent loss of some inches off his vertical leap.

2) Derrick Williams "signing for cheap" or the idea that he might give the Cavs any kind of discount is your own personal pipe dream. Williams will go to the highest bidder, especially if he realizes any future role he might have with the Cavs is as a "future bench player".

But the die is cast and I see no way Lue will utilize Williams, he doesn't have the balls at this stage where there is no room for error. He should have played him when we still had a few losses to give.

But Derrick signing here at a discount just to get the privilege to sit on the bench for a coach who has shown he doesn't appreciate or see any use for what he brings to the table? Whatever you're smoking, please send me some.

 

[TitleTown]

1) Although RJ has found ways to contribute by being physical and scrappy on defense, and by making intelligent cuts to the rim for high percentage buckets, to say that he in any way has "found his groove" is a huge stretch. He can't hit a perimeter shot if his life depended on it, and his confidence in his shot is so bad he has all but quit even attempting to shoot from outside. He has gotten some open layups but he doesn't look like he can attack the rim with any force due to an apparent loss of some inches off his vertical leap.

2) Derrick Williams "signing for cheap" or the idea that he might give the Cavs any kind of discount is your own personal pipe dream. Williams will go to the highest bidder, especially if he realizes any future role he might have with the Cavs is as a "future bench player".

But the die is cast and I see no way Lue will utilize Williams, he doesn't have the balls at this stage where there is no room for error. He should have played him when we still had a few losses to give.

But Derrick signing here at a discount just to get the privilege to sit on the bench for a coach who has shown he doesn't appreciate or see any use for what he brings to the table? Whatever you're smoking, please send me some.

I don't know why you're taking this so personally. I'm just sharing a possible scenario that I see. Yours may be possible as well. I don't really have all that much invested either way, and I couldn't care less.

But I don't think Williams is a valuable as you do.

 

[buzzdog]

I don't know why you're taking this so personally. I'm just sharing a possible scenario that I see. Yours may be possible as well. I don't really have all that much invested either way, and I couldn't care less.

But I don't think Williams is a valuable as you do.

All I've ever said is that it was worth a try for Lue to see if Derrick Williams could be of use defending KD in spot minutes to give him a different look against length and athleticism.

I believe that not at least trying that is a mistake on Lue's part. Like many coaches I think Lue places too much emphasis on experience when he should spend more effort to coach up and utilize more athletic players. To me it's a type of laziness on his part, or maybe a lack of courage in trying something different if only to throw it against the wall. I see this as an area Lue needs to improve upon.

Other than that I defend Lue pretty strongly.

If literally nobody wants to pay Derrick Willams under the expanded cap then sure, maybe he'll re-sign. I think there's close to zero chance of that happening.

 

[TitleTown]

All I've ever said is that it was worth a try for Lue to see if Derrick Williams could be of use defending KD in spot minutes to give him a different look against length and athleticism.

I believe that not at least trying that is a mistake on Lue's part. Like many coaches I think Lue places too much emphasis on experience when he should spend more effort to coach up and utilize more athletic players. To me it's a type of laziness on his part, or maybe a lack of courage in trying something different if only to throw it against the wall. I see this as an area Lue needs to improve upon.

Other than that I defend Lue pretty strongly.

Totally agree. But, that ship has sailed. The time to test his playoff worth was before the finals. I agree that we should have tested him against Boston or Pacers. But we didn't, and Williams is too untested to try him at this stage.

I'm a Lue supporter through and through, but this is certainly one of his oversights this playoffs.

HOWEVER, I think that concluding that Williams is pissed about it, or unhappy with the Cavs because of it is assuming too much. If RJ retires this offseason, and we tell Williams that we want him to have the role of coming off the bench behind LBJ, then that might be a VERY attractive offer for a player that is trying to rehab his career. Will that be worth more to him than a little bit bigger paycheck somewhere else? I don't know. Maybe he signs a cheap 1 year deal with the Cavs, takes the RJ role next year, and then signs a good deal the following year? But, maybe not. All that I'm saying is that him not playing in this playoffs does not mean that he's leaving us next year.

 

[buzzdog]

But, maybe not. All that I'm saying is that him not playing in this playoffs does not mean that he's leaving us next year.

I think it's a pretty bad omen. And I think somebody in the league will give him a better chance to be higher in the rotation than he could ever be under Lue in Cleveland. To me it looks like Lue has for some reason written this guy off, and I don't understand why.

 

[TitleTown]

I think it's a pretty bad omen. And I think somebody in the league will give him a better chance to be higher in the rotation than he could ever be under Lue in Cleveland. To me it looks like Lue has for some reason written this guy off, and I don't understand why.

You may be right. OR, maybe Lue sat him down like a man, and said:

"DW, I think you have a great future on this team, but I have to play RJ in this playoffs. If you decide to stay with us next year, you'll have the chance to earn the backup SF minutes--which is a significant role for this team. And if we have injuries during this playoffs, you're the first guy to get minutes. So we need you to stay sharp and ready."

If I was DW, and I was teamless in the middle of the season last year, I don't think I'd have a problem with that. I'm not saying I'm right and you're wrong, but I am saying that you may not be right. I'm hopeful that DW stays around, but if he doesn't...no big loss.

 

[WorldFreeB]

We already have Sanders coming back next year,,love to see DW come back also.
I think its important to get some fresh younger legs out there to lay down the D next year.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

We already have Sanders coming back next year,,love to see DW come back also.
I think its important to get some fresh younger legs out there to lay down the D next year.

That is fine against a lot of teams. The problem is that against GSW, you need at least four strong offensive players on the floor at any given time. For the starting 5, TK is the non-offensive player. And once we get to the bench, at least one of the big three is sitting so we need all the offense we can get.

 

[TitleTown]

Nah dude he isnt coming back. How does that feel with all the shit you talked in here after his decent week and a half of games to people who weren't talking shit to you? Woo, man do you look silly through here. Getting so upset and condescending with anyone who dare question Derrick Williams' ability to contribute.

What? Ok. lol Don't care.

 

[iMoeJoe]

We've got to find a way to integrate him into our team. I believe he can be turned into an elite defender. Hopefully he signs vet minimum.


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[wremy]

He most certainly should get some run ... He should be busting his ass for that backup 3-4 position...I feel he could contribute just on his pure athleticism

 

[ChocolateButter]

We already have Sanders coming back next year,,love to see DW come back also.
I think its important to get some fresh younger legs out there to lay down the D next year.

Sanders coming back? Am I missing something here?

 

[chuck0609]

We've got to find a way to integrate him into our team. I believe he can be turned into an elite defender. Hopefully he signs vet minimum.


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The only question I have is why would he? He played well enough in February that many of us were enamoured with his potential, then Lue inexplicitly buried him on the bench.

 

[brownsbuck6]

The only question I have is why would he? He played well enough in February that many of us were enamoured with his potential, then Lue inexplicitly buried him on the bench.

I am of the belief he's being groomed for the RJ role.. but it will be interesting to see what happens with him this offseason.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Sanders coming back? Am I missing something here?

Sanders was useless. He's not gonna be back.

Our best bet is Bogut still wants to play for us.