Nets Grab 6'10" Williams With #17

by Matt McQueeny, NJNets.com

With the 17th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, the Nets were able to fill their need. They got an athletic, defensive-oriented, shot blocking big man, something that they have been seeking since the departure of Kenyon Martin in 2004. By drafting the 6’10”, 235 pound Sean Williams out of Boston College, New Jersey did find their player, even though he may come with some risk.

Williams was dismissed from his BC team this season – his junior campaign – for repeat violations of team rules. He is, however, one of the most athletic players in the draft, and were it not for the off-the-court issues, a player of his caliber would not fall to the mid-first round for a team in the Nets position to pick.

Williams, from Mansfield, Texas, played 69 games in two-plus seasons with the BC Eagles, leading the team in blocks each of his three seasons. In his aforementioned shortened junior season, where he played just 15 games, Williams blocked 75 shots. He also averaged 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds over those 15 contests.

Nets President Rod Thorn truly emphasized the point that the Nets felt the potential of the 20 year old was well worth the risk. If the issues away from the court were not present, Thorn said there is no way a kid of this ability would fall outside of the lottery.

“Our feeling was that – where we picked at 17 – that Williams was the one player that had a tremendous upside. Obviously, there have been some issues and we got all the information we could.”

“There is not an athlete within this draft who was any more athletic than this kid and he brings a shot blocking presence and a defensive presence that our team needs. We tried to look at it, we got all the information we could, we tried to disseminate it and at the end of the day we felt the risk was worth it.”

In doing their due diligence, Thorn and the Nets found that he was a bright young man, one who made over 1200 on his boards. Thorn even noted that, for what it’s worth, Williams actually stayed on at BC and completed his semester there after he was dismissed from the team.

In the post-pick conference call, Williams sounded happy to be landing with the Nets.

“I can’t wait to play with the great players they have,” said the 17th pick.

“I’m just going to come and try to bring a lot of energy and play defense, and run the floor.”

The great players the Nets have – obviously led by Jason Kidd – will also presumably and hopefully provide a level of stability for the young player. Thorn said the leadership of the club definitely entered into the decision to draft Williams.

The fact that some of the wing players the Nets were targeting were picked before them made their pick a little easier to make. Thorn also said that the team received five trade offers between the 11 and 17 picks.

“A couple of them were interesting,” said the President.

In the end, the Nets got both a player they coveted and one which fills a definite need.

Concluded Thorn, “Our feeling was that we needed a player like this, since Kenyon. A player of this athleticism and of this ability. Here we’ve got one. Had there been no issues, he wouldn’t have been there. I emphasize, where we were picking, our feeling was this was a guy if things go well – if he does reach his potential – he could be sensational. He has that kind of athletic ability.”

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