Jordan Williams - The next Kendrick Perkins?

by KVin2 on May 18, 2011 11:56 AM PDT

Probably not. But the Blazers should take him with the 21st pick anyway.

Here's why: The Blazers' problem last year was not shooting. It was not having a ball handler. It was not even offensively related. Our biggest problem was injuries, as has been the case for the past several seasons. Specifically, injuries and the resulting lack of depth in the frontcourt. Greg Oden, Marcus Camby, Joel Pryzbilla and Jeff Pendergraph all missed significant time this season. As a result Chris Nicolas Batum and Gerald Wallace were LA's primary backups by the end of the season.

There has been talk of trying to resign The Vanilla Thrilla. If he is available that would be a wise move. However, we cannot count on his health. Nor can we count on Greg Oden being healthy if the Blazers choose to resign him.

However, Jordan Williams has been healthy his entire career; he played in all 33 games in both of his seasons at Maryland, averaging 31 MPG his freshman season and 25 MPG his sophomore season. Conditioning issues forced him to the bench last year. He seems to have taken care of that, however, via Chad Ford at ESPN.com: "He's lost 10 pounds, dropped from 13 percent body fat to 8 percent and really hasn't lost any strength but has gained quickness, explosiveness and agility in the process. He's also improved his jump shot over the course of the past six weeks [in Las Vegas] as well." The Blazers training staff can help him keep the weight and body fat down.

Williams would provide us a legitimate backup for Camby and LA, and could ultimately be the starting Center in two years. He has size similar to Perkins (WIlliams comes in a 6'10", 250, Perkins is 6'10", 280), but has great strength around the rim along with a soft touch and a 6-11 1/2 wingspan.

The other reason the Blazers should draft him are his physical basetball tools. His best skill is rebounding, and years of experience has taught us the skill that translates the best from college to the NBA is rebounding. He averaged 16 ppg and 12 rbg as a sophomore in only 25 mpg. He had a 25.27 Hollinger PER. With better conditioning he can replicate similar numbers with the Blazers.

There are other reasons to draft Williams: he's only 20 and could grow another inch or two potentially, he averaged over a block a game in college and could average more with more explosiveness, and doesn't have off-the-court issues. However, the biggest thing the Blazers need as a team is health along the frontcourt, which he brings.

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The Blazers are the 'big brother' in this relationship

The little brother gets a new toy (all star) and the big brother has to go break it.

-----KFBR392

by JCLMA2k11 on May 18, 2011 2:52 PM PDT reply actions

Theme of the 2011 Blazer draft

Go big, or stay home

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on May 18, 2011 6:41 PM PDT reply actions

Pretty much.

Jordan Williams is an interesting prospect. The dude is big, and while he could be a great defensive presence in the paint because of his size. He’s going to get burned by face up big men who he won’t be able to guard because of his lack of lateral quickness. I’d still take him, but I think it would be wiser target him in the second round, but I wouldn’t be devastated if we took him at 21.

The smarter you are, the more likely you are to be tripping balls at any given moment.
Trade for Ramon Sessions!

by gtbassett on May 18, 2011 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions

The big issue with Jordan Williams is despite him being a tough man-to-man defender, he's slow-footed ...

and doesn’t provide much when it comes to help defense or shot blocking. The guy can crash the boards, though. Offensively, Williams is pretty mediocre and sucks at passing out of tough situations when he’s got the ball inside with deep position. If anything, I’d say that Williams is way more similar to Kendrick Perkins’ OKC teammate, Nazr Mohammed, even when it comes to height and weight.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on May 18, 2011 9:52 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

He's a better defender than you think...

He averaged over a block a game in college, and has increased his lateral quickness since slimming down, and has improved his jump shot. He’s also extremely strong with stoft touch around the basket. Plus we don’t need him to be an offensive force, we have LA, Matthews, Wallace, et. al. for that. We need rebounding, size, and shot blocking, which he can bring. If he puts up 10-12 every night then it’s a great pick.

by KVin2 on May 19, 2011 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Nazr Mohammed isn't a slouch, so it's not like I'm tearing down Jordan Williams.

Heck, Mohammed even won a ring as the starting center for the 2005 San Antonio Spurs.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on May 19, 2011 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd say he's a worse defender than you think

by Mr. E on Jun 4, 2011 5:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I like him as a second rounder, but I wouldn't go for him at 21

In the limited number of Maryland games I saw, he looked pretty good

Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.

by blazeraddict on May 19, 2011 9:06 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, he's a second-round prospect.

"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."

by AK1984 on May 19, 2011 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Sounds interesting.

by Hopman27 on May 19, 2011 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

let's goooo maryland!

pick up jordan williams in the second round if he’s there. he’s big and he can play, great qualities in a draft pick.

we would have gotten to the second round of the playoffs if we had drafted another terp last year, greivis vasquez instead of luke “the doof” babbitt.

yet another terp, steve blake, would have come in pretty handy off the bench instead of patty “i don’t play, mate” mills.

the writing is on the wall. terps are the key!

by SaveOden on May 20, 2011 5:41 AM PDT reply actions

More like the next Big Baby

Jordan is only 6’ 9" in shoes, so he’s really small for a C, and he didn’t test as overly strong. His best attributes are defensive rebounding and finishing around the hoop with his very good touch. He is not nearly as strong or as good defensively as Perkins so do not expect that coming in.
You also have his minute #’s backwards. Last year he played 32.5 per game, mostly because Maryland had no other legit bigs.

by Mr. E on Jun 4, 2011 5:46 AM PDT reply actions