Sean Williams sits, ponders Net future
BY JULIAN GARCIA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Thursday, October 30th 2008, 9:47 PM
<!-- ARTICLE CONTENT START --> A week into training camp,
Sean Williams was one of the
Nets' best players.
Vince Carter said so, and
Lawrence Frank agreed.
But on opening night in
Washington on Wednesday, Williams might as well have been sitting with the fans. That's how far down the Nets' bench he was.
The team's top draft pick a year ago, Williams was one of just two active players not to get into the Nets' 95-85 win over the
Wizards.
Maurice Ager, a guard who was thrown into the
Jason Kidd trade with
Dallas last season, was the other.
Though Frank wouldn't publicly reveal his plan for Williams prior to tip-off, the coach did tell the 22-year-old center what to expect during a private meeting the day before. Frank also dropped hints during the preseason, limiting Williams' playing time in favor of this year's top pick,
Brook Lopez.
Actually, Williams had something to do with that. When Frank approached him before a game against the
Knicks on Oct.21 and asked if he'd like to start over Lopez, Williams declined, saying that Lopez needed the playing time.
Now Williams is the one looking for minutes. Thursday he said he has no regrets about choosing to sit in favor of Lopez last week. He also offered mostly shrugs and head shakes when asked what he needs to do to get back into the rotation.
"Just keep doing me," said Williams. "My time will come."
Frank said Williams won't necessarily be stuck on the bench forever. But he couldn't offer specific examples of how Williams can earn playing time. "He's going to get an opportunity," said Frank. "When? I don't know."
"He's going to get an opportunity," said Frank. "When? I don't know." Williams was highly -touted when the Nets took him out of
Boston College with the 17th pick last year. But aside from a few flashes last season, he's been mostly disappointing, failing to live up to his billing as a top shot-blocker and rim-rocker.
In fact, the Nets have shown interest in trading him in the past and may also look to use Williams in a deal sometime soon. With Lopez and
Josh Boone seemingly locked into the rotation, and with the equally athletic but more experienced
Stromile Swift possibly returning from a back injury in the not-so-distant future, finding playing time for Williams could be difficult.
The Nets still would like to find a third point guard or another wing player, and someone with Williams' potential and rookie-scale salary could be good trade bait. The team exercised the third-year option on his contract Thursday.
