E. Williams Trade

[JLC92@cnsibm.albany.edu]

I liked Eric Williams but was disappointed in is coming to camp last
year so totally out of shape and over weight.  By mid-year, he seemed
to get back to his old self.  I did have a problem projecting him into
Pitino's running and pressing style of play even though RP was talking
about him in glowing terms.  He could NOT defend the quick 3's on the
perimeter and that will be mandatory in the new RP style.  His lack of
any range on his jumpshot is also problematic.  As Steven Kwon stated
here, he is a 3.5.  I did however think that he would bring more than
a couple of 2nd round picks that probably will never make the roster
(a true salary dump)

Although Brian Grant is an excellent Power Forward, I don't see him
fitting in on this roster.  With Walker, Massenberg and DeClerq (and
maybe even Pervis, although I don't think RP will let him off the end
of the bench) there are not enough minutes to go aroung.  That would
leave us with possibly Walker, Minor and Mercer at 3.  I don't see
this as a reasonable option.  This brings us to Chris Mills.

Bringing Chris Mills in to play the 3 makes perfect sense to me.  This
guy can play RP's style and he can light it up from 3 pt land.  I don't
see paying him 3.8 mil (although I have a hard time seeing most of
these guys making what they do)  This would give us a starting linup of

c  Knight    (DeClerq)
pf Walker    (Massenberg)
sf Mills     (Bowen, Minor)
sf Mercer    (Minor, Barros)
pt Billups   (Brown, Barros)

This lineup has potential, would be quick and could play pressure D.
Its weakness would be interior defense and rebounding.  Time will tell.

    ======================================================================
    Jeffrey Collins
    Office of Graduate Admission
    University at Albany
    (518) 442-3980
    jlc92@cnsibm.albany.edu