Shelden Williams

[Foye]

I agree 100%. Others love Smith and might not think the same.

I don't get the troll comment.

IMO: Smith > Williams

Smith at least provides easy points because he can score on anyone although being smaller than all his opponents, Williams is IMO pretty lethargic

What impresses me most of Craigers is that he really works his butt of. I don't have the impression that Shelden does so I'd much rather keep Smith than Williams although we have already a PF who can score on anyone in Big Al.
In comparison to Smith, Williams has all the talent in the world but he has not and will never be putting it together whereas Smith is to me one of the most impressive nba players. He could just have given up because he is a 6-7 PF who is unable to play SF which he should really do in the nba with his size...but he found a way to be efficient.

In addition to that it is always good to have a guy coming of the bench who can provide some easy points...

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'd take Craig over Williams. Shelden doesn't even try to block shots, I thought at least some of that would carry over to the NBA, but it hasn't. I think it's 50% that he's so beaten down from getting dunked on that he's lost the will to contest shots in the air, and 50% that he's not in the same shape he was in college. When you're already a 12% bodyfat guy who's kinda short, you have to work above and beyond everybody else if you want to be a bigtimer in the NBA, and Shezzledizzle Wizzle didn't take that approach. He seems very content. Which is fine, he has a hot wife and has made nice money, but for the Wolves looking to build a team, we need hungry guys looking to get fed and ready to fight, not satiated guys who have been well-fed.....

[mandurugo]

Maybe he just needs Carl Weathers to take him under his wing and help get his eye of the tiger back? Plus, even in his apathetic state he is a much more effective defensive player than Smith. I would certainly keep him over Smith if that were the option - though of course mnWI's comments are on point. At their current levels, either player should be low enough in the rotation to not really matter - but there's still a faint chance Williams could become more.

[Devilzsidewalk]

to put in a mathematical perspective for reference, say one guy overachieves and gives you 70% production and another guy under achieves and gives you 75% production, I'll take the overachiever who might be giving me slightly less, but is contributing to creating an environment of giving more effort. The underachiever guy you can say "if only" and then you have a star, but in the mean time he's helping create an environment that it's okay to coast.

I think Craig is cut from the overachiever cloth, Shelden is falling into the other group

[Foye]

to put in a mathematical perspective for reference, say one guy overachieves and gives you 70% production and another guy under achieves and gives you 75% production, I'll take the overachiever who might be giving me slightly less, but is contributing to creating an environment of giving more effort. The underachiever guy you can say "if only" and then you have a star, but in the mean time he's helping create an environment that it's okay to coast.

I think Craig is cut from the overachiever cloth, Shelden is falling into the other group

That is a good example which really fits.

Your team can not consist just of prospects who may never be putting it together. You need also some guys who don't have as much talent but therefore work harder than anyone else and get the others fired up so that everyone is working hard and making sure the team is getting out of the slump.

[john2jer]

Sounds like an advertisement for a Mad Dog and Tyler Hansbrough front court next season. Get er done!

[Devilzsidewalk]

Sounds like an advertisement for a Mad Dog and Tyler Hansbrough front court next season. Get er done!

ok I'm gonna be serious for a second: I have Hansbrough in my sights for that Boston pick

[TrentTuckerForever]

ok I'm gonna be serious for a second: I have Hansbrough in my sights for that Boston pick

Go back to being funny, Devilz. Madsen, Cardinal, Collins, Smith, Gomes... this team already has it's fair share of "grinders" who are undersized or undertalented for their positions. Hansbrough should get drafted by the Spurs or Detroit, like Madsen was by the Lakers. Think Mad Dog would still be in the league today if he was drafted by the Clippers?

[Worm Guts]

Hansborough is significantly better than Maddog. Mad Dog wasn't a 4 time all-american. I'd advocate drafting him if we weren't already fully stocked on power forwards.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I think the only way we get a better player than Hansbrough is by trade. I can't see any better options in the free agency or the draft unless we're handing out contracts that don't make sense or drafting somebody too high considering our needs on the perimeter

ps

Go back to being funny, Devilz.

you think I'm funny?

[theGreatRC]

Smith > Williams, not even debatable.


Smith could play against teams when they actually gave a **** about winning, but now that teams are sort of slowing down a bit and getting ready for the playoffs, players like Williams can put up big games and sort of give hope to fans that they can play.

Smith has been consistent for us ever since he came into the league, Williams has done good for a couple of games.

No brainer.

[Calinks]

I have to take Craig over Willaims too. Craig Smith is a great role player to bring off the bench. He's touch and gritty. If he expands his jumpshot he will be even more dnagerous. Right now, he may not seem like a great fit because we don't got our crap together. We are a team that is looking for starts. But, when we get to the point where we are a very good team, a playoff team, players like Craig Smith will be incredibly useful.

Playoff teams need to have depth and versatility. With Al Jefferson and Love beating teams post players up, it would be a great treat to bring off a player like Craig Smith who will go after pot players with fresh legs and further beat them down. There are elite bigmen in the NBA who have trouble guarding Craigers right now. When you got a team that's looking to do something, a guy like Craigers is perfect off the bench.

[Worm Guts]

Craig Smith doesn't give the Wolves versatility, he's just another undersized power forward. That said, Williams doesn't offer much versatility either and at least Craig Smith can score. Williams is pretty much meh at everything.

[Calinks]

Yea, but Craig Smith gets to the line and is a bulldog. He brings the same thing as Al or future Love (Low post scoring) but he brings it in a different manner. He's explosive and strong under the basket. Guarding him is a little different than guarding Love or Al. He wont give you much on D but as a role guy off the bench he does his job and does it well. He has a good chance to give you 16 points off the bench of any given night and he can score in quick bunches. As long as he come at a reasonable price I think we can have a place for him.

[jack612]

what if he decides to return to the sea?

[4ho5ive]

It took everything i had not to spit water all over the computer screen after seeing that.

[mandurugo]

Smith is a surprisingly good scorer, especially for his size. He also makes whoever he's guarding an even more surpisingly good scorer. He would probably benefit from playing for D'Antoni, he shouldn't have been resigned by the wolves.

[Arlisin]

Smith is a decent offensive player. Williams is decent in keeping the bench warm. Maybe his wife can play for us?

[revprodeji]

1. I’m going to come out and say it. Shelden Williams played perhaps the best defensive game of any interior post defender since KG left the team. For his two stretches of run- The Wolves were a +7 and a +8. In the 4th Quarter- Golden State only had 2 points in the paint- once the game was already in hand. Look at their shot chart from this quarter.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart ... =290408009.
He showcases what a difference having someone long that holds position can make in this area.
His performance last night makes me want to run the Front Office’s Solid Trade Streak to 6: KG, Ricky Avis, Hassell, Mayo,Carney, and Shaddy.
I I really do wish to explore the possibility of bringing Shelden as a back-up 5 next year. For the type of investment you would have to make this seems like a good use of resources. I know some of the Small-Ball detractors won’t like this. On the other hand- one can be a quite good defensive center at 6’9 (Ben Wallace)- Williams also plays bigger because of his wing span.

http://www.canishoopus.com/2009/4/9/828 ... t#comments

[john2jer]

what if he decides to return to the sea?

I anoint you king for a day.