Elliot Williams?

[Fez Hammersticks]

Two league sources told ESPN.com that the Blazers (who pick at No. 22) have been very active in trade discussions. Specifically, the team has been hunting for a pick in the mid-first round -- somewhere between 16 and 19. They appear to be trying to move ahead of the San Antonio Spurs, who pick 20.

- Chad Ford

Some have speculated that Williams received a promise from the Spurs that they would use the No. 20 pick on him if he's still available.

- Commercial Appeal

​

 

[Nikolokolus]

Maybe ... I confess I don't know much about him except that he plays the 2 guard. If he really is the Blazers' target then you can pretty much guarantee that Rudy is done (maybe Bayless at some point too).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

[video=youtube;KQNv_7IiqXk]

[video=youtube;tqfl0N9z6Dg]

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

FWIW, Chad Ford compares him to Jason Terry.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The Portland Trail Blazers have targeted University of Memphis guard Elliot Williams and are actively working to get an additional first-round pick in the 20s to draft him, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Without another pick in the late first round, Portland will have to decide whether it wants to use the 22nd selection on Williams. The Blazers would prefer to use No. 22 on a different player, but don’t believe Williams will be available when they select again at No. 34.

Sources say the Blazers have been willing to give Memphis the 34th overall pick and as much as $3 million to get one of the Grizzlies’ two picks – either Nos. 25 or 28. Memphis has discussed trading those two picks to Minnesota to move up to the 16th spot.

Blazers owner Paul Allen paid $2 million to exchange the 44th pick for No. 34 with Golden State on Monday.

Williams has been slowed with a knee injury suffered in a predraft session last month in San Antonio, but Portland has worked him out and feels confident in his recovery.

- Woj

I called this one

 

[Nikolokolus]

How about Rudy and some cash to cover his salary and future second round pick? Clearly they think they need to add some wing depth with "Hot pants" Fernandez on his way out the door.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Wasn't the rumor that SA wanted Batum but the Blazers snagged him before SA's pick.

I think I like this Eliot guy.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Williams has been slowed with a knee injury suffered in a predraft session last month in San Antonio, but Portland has worked him out and feels confident in his recovery.

This was all I needed to read to know this is for real. I swear to God, if Portland picks a guy in the first round with bad knees I will scream

 

[Nikolokolus]

This was all I needed to read to know this is for real. I swear to God, if Portland picks a guy in the first round with bad knees I will scream

Maybe the training staff now considers themselves the experts on knees in the league after the past 3 years? He'd certainly be able to share rehab tips and tricks

 

[Wizard Mentor]

This was all I needed to read to know this is for real. I swear to God, if Portland picks a guy in the first round with bad knees I will scream

It's all good. If we pick someone with pick #22 and actually play them, you'll scream anyway

 

[Mediocre Man]

It's all good. If we pick someone with pick #22 and actually play them, you'll scream anyway

When have I ever screamed about playing young guys?

Hopefully he's good at launching shots against the shot clock after Roy has to pass out of the ISO. If he can do that, he can play for Nate

 

[Nikolokolus]

When have I ever screamed about playing young guys?

Hopefully he's good at launching shots against the shot clock after Roy has to pass out of the ISO. If he can do that, he can play for Nate

Actually I think I've come to a conclusion regarding Roy and the iso. I don't think we run it as much you say they do; I'll bet half of those one-on-one shots that Roy takes are coming off of "oh shit" offense.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Actually I think I've come to a conclusion regarding Roy and the iso; I don't think we run it as much you say they do; I'll bet half of those one-on-one shots that Roy takes are coming off of "oh shit" offense.

Hahaha

 

[Minstrel]

This was all I needed to read to know this is for real. I swear to God, if Portland picks a guy in the first round with bad knees I will scream

Yeah, I was pretty pissed when Portland went with their own evaluations over health concerns out of a San Antonio workout. Batum was a wasted pick.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yeah, I was pretty pissed when Portland went with their own evaluations over health concerns out of a San Antonio workout. Batum was a wasted pick.

Batum didn't have leg concerns

Oden and Roy both had them, and both have missed important time because of them

 

[Nikolokolus]

More on Williams

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/16927/the-mystery-of-elliot-williams

Says he worked out for Portland recently.

 

[HurraKane212]

my take
http://www.portlandroundballsociety...ki-blazers-are-targeting-elliot-williams.html

 

[BIG Q]

Batum didn't have leg concerns

Oden and Roy both had them, and both have missed important time because of them

Even worse, he was a Frenchy with a heart problem!

 

[ABM]

Even worse, he was a Frenchy with a heart problem!

Generally speaking, I thought that was a common occurrence wit dem dere guys??

 

[barfo]

Batum didn't have leg concerns

Oden and Roy both had them, and both have missed important time because of them

We need to find a prospect without legs.

barfo

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Sounds like another draft war between POR and SAS.

KP sent out smoke a few days before the draft that Serge Ibaka was our target, which Chad Ford bought, while he kept the real target a secret.

I think he could be doing the same thing here with Williams while the real target is Seraphin.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Well the best thing about this.... is the fact that we want an ADDITIONAL PICK....which means we are gonna trade the other one....cause there is no way in hell we take (and sign) two rookies...

no room

 

[james3921]

Sounds like another draft war between POR and SAS.

KP sent out smoke a few days before the draft that Serge Ibaka was our target, which Chad Ford bought, while he kept the real target a secret.

I think he could be doing the same thing here with Williams while the real target is Seraphin.

I wish the real target was Ibaka... that guy would be sweet as a backup 4.

 

[Draco]

I wish the real target was Ibaka... that guy would be sweet as a backup 4.

Yes he would be sweet, but I think our starting SF ended up better

 

[Rhal]

Batum > Ibaka by about as much as Durant > Oden at the moment.

 

[JDC]

Not a big fan of Elliot Williams.

He doesn't have pg skills and isn't nearly big enough to guard 2's. Good athlete but lacks strength. Right hand is weak, settles for a lot of step-back fadeways going that direction. I will say that he works well off-ball and seems to be a good spot up shooter.

He was the go-to guy for Memphis and the ran a lot 1-4 sets for him, which is partly the reason he got to the line 7.5 times a game, added with the fact that he had some huge fta games against weak c-usa opponents. I just don't see him as that type of player in the NBA which might be a bit of an adjustment for him.

I'd much rather go with another lefty in Armon Johnson out of Nevada who at over 6-3 w/ a 6-8 wingspan has great size and athleticism for a pg.

Great on the ball defender, but his off-ball D leaves a bit to be desired. Pretty disciplined but could stand to use his athleticism a bit more, especially when contesting shots around the rim.

He's a good, confident passer, but can get a bit lax at times. Reads D's very well overall though.

Good ballhandler. Right hand isn't great and he seems to be reluctant to finish with it as well (much like Williams but at a lesser extent), but his strength, length and athleticism allows him to get away with it much more often than Williams, being able to knock smaller pg's off balance and rise up over them for mid-range J's.

In a lot of ways his offensive game reminds of Delonte West. Works a lot in the mid range area and has also shown a nice post game at times. Isn't the shooter West is, but has nice mechanics so I expect that to improve with time.

Unselfish, plays with a swagger, clutch and is a leader on the floor.

At worst he is a solid back-up PG in the NBA in my opinion. One of my favorite players in the draft.

 

[JDC]

Batum > Ibaka by about as much as Durant > Oden at the moment.

Disagree. Ibaka has a long way to go before he is a consistent starter in this league (still learning the game at both ends). But is he is a crazy athlete, and he has skills to go along with it, and he plays his heart out. Very rare combo in this league.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

From Chad Ford:

According to Yahoo! Sports, Portland has locked in on Memphis guard Elliot Williams.
Portland owns picks No. 22 and No. 34, but are trying to get another late first round pick and they would use that pick on Williams.
Reportedly Portland is willing to send Memphis the No. 34 pick and $3 million to get either the No. 25 or No. 28 pick.
Williams has only worked out for a couple of teams so far due to a knee injury.

Chad Ford

Blazers most likely to take Williams

"According to agent Thad Foucher, Williams has worked out recently for Portland, Boston and Houston. Foucher said that Williams just completed a physical and that he was sending the results to all 30 teams in the league prior to the draft. While all of this could certainly be 'agent spin' by Foucher, these are the clearest statements we've received on Williams so far. Sources say that of the teams that have worked out Williams, the Blazers are the most likely to take him. The question is where? They could get him with the No. 22 pick or they could take a gamble and hope he's on the board with the No. 34 pick."​

​

 

[Nikolokolus]

I kind of agree about Armon Johnson; I think at 34 he's a pretty viable candidate and with Mills a restricted free agent and Jerryd's future with the team somewhat up in the air and Miller not getting any younger it's not a terrible use of a pick.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I can't stress enough how unhappy I will be if Portland adds another rookie. It means 1 more year of not being a serious contender.