RealGM

ThePostGame: When did you know you wouldn't be the first pick in this year's draft?

Derrick Williams: Probably about a few minutes before David Stern announced it. I was relieved, especially when they called his name. I just think that with going to the team that has the No. 1 pick is a lot of pressure. The whole organization is coming down and putting everything on your shoulders. I'm not saying I wasn't ready for that. But there is a lot of shoes to fill (in Cleveland), especially with the team now. It's a better fit for me in Minnesota. I'm sort of glad I got picked No. 2 because you have a young team, you have a base, you are people that are young with experience. We have a great young core and hopefully we can build off of that.

TPG: How are you going to co-exist in Minnesota with all those forwards: Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Brad Miller, Anthony Randolph and Anthony Tolliver?

Williams: We have people that play the same position, but we don't have people that don't like each other or are trying to go after each other because they play the same spot. You want to fight for the minutes. I'm not saying we're not going to do that. We have two people that play the same spot and play so versatile who are athletic, like to run and like to get in the open court. I think it's really good. (Beasley and I) both notice that. When we are on the court at the same time, it's hard to guard us. Not too many teams have two similar players on their team and that's going to help us. We might give up some size but we make it up with speed, quickness and causing a lot of mismatches.

TPG: What was it like playing with Spanish rookie guard Ricky Rubio before the lockout?

Williams: He's a great player. He's always a step ahead. That's the good thing about him. His IQ is always really high. When he sees something, he's already ahead of you because he knows how the defense is going to play him. That's the good part about him, his (basketball) IQ is really high, he wants to pass you the ball, he wants you to look good. Everybody in the NBA wants a point guard that's going to pass you the ball. It's up to us to make the plays.