Location: East Rutherford, N.J. | Arena: IZOD Center (19,990) | Principal Owner: Bruce Ratner | GM: Kiki Vandeweghe Head Coach: Lawrence Frank | Titles: 0
Ever since the popular and furious defender was dealt to Denver in a controversial move that heralded the ownership regime of Bruce Ratner, the Nets have sought a big, athletic, shot-blocking body to fill the void. They think first-round pick Sean Williams can be that player.
"Sean Williams is the guy that can bring what we need," said general manager Ed Stefanski. "I would compare him to a young Kenyon Martin, an athletic big who can run the floor. He jumps as well as Kenyon did. He covers the floor side to side defensively as well. He will cover multiple positions. So when were looking at him we saw similarities. I don't want to put pressure on Sean, saying he's the next Kenyon Martin, but he's a Kenyon Martin-type player."
As it turned out, Martin has been injured much of his time in Denver and the assets received eventually translated into part of the package used to get Vince Carter from Toronto. Still, Martin's abilities never were replaced.
This past season, the Nets were 27th in the NBA in shot-blocking, averaging 3.33 a game. Williams, in his troubled stint at Boston College that ended with him being kicked off the team for marijuana abuse, set a single-season team record with 75 blocks in 15 games, an average of 5.0. At No. 17, the Nets felt Williams was definitely worth the risk. He's a high risk, but could potentially bring a high return.
"We have our athletic big in Sean Williams," Ratner said. "Everybody always says, 'Ratner, get an athletic big. Get an athletic big.' So ownership is very, very happy. Sean Williams will be a great addition to this franchise."
And, Williams insisted, it was the franchise he hoped would draft him.
"Right when the season was over, me and my agent (Charles Grantham), we sat down and looked at the teams that could possibly pick me and the Nets were on the top of the list," Williams said. "I'm happy to be here, really. This is a perfect situation for me."
Even if it comes complete with comparisons to a great player.
"It doesn't put any pressure on me," Williams said of being compared to Martin. "It actually makes me look forward to get out there on the hardwood and showing the fans what I have.
"From the beginning, I could always block shots, it is something God has blessed me with and I'm just trying to work hard to become a better rebounder," said Williams, who admitted there is a reason for the comparison with Martin through "the explosiveness and the energy we bring to the game."
Copyright (C) 2007 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
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