Ein paar gute Nachrichten, mal sehen, ob dort etwas dran ist. Ich halte Sam Amico für recht glaubwürdig, auch wenn ich mich nicht erinnern kann, dass er irgendeinen Trade je vorhergesagt hat, aber nun gut.
Ich wüsste nicht, was die Lakers für Williams groß bieten könnten, aber wenn sie ihn bekommen, dann werden sie hier ein paar Leute bei Mitch entschuldigen müssen...
Sources: Lakers want Memphis' Williams
By Sam Amico
July 31, 2005
Two NBA sources familiar with the situation have told Pro Basketball News that the Los Angeles Lakers are actively pursuing a trade for Memphis point guard Jason Williams.
“They need a point guard, and (Williams) appears to be the best one available,” the first source said late Saturday. "He is who they want."
Added the second source, “The Lakers are secretly going after Williams. He’s probably the easiest (starting point guard) for them to get right now. They wouldn't have to give up much to get him.”
Both sources are employed by teams other than the Lakers and Grizzlies.
Williams reportedly has been on the trading block since the season ended. The Grizzlies have also signed longtime Portland starter and free agent Damon Stoudamire -- perhaps making a move involving Williams imminent.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Sunday that Williams may be part of a three-team trade involving Miami, but did not know of the third team.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have already traded Chucky Atkins, their starter from last season, to Washington in a deal that brought them Kwame Brown (Lakers forward Caron Butler was also part of the trade). That leaves perennial backup Tierre Brown and second-year player Sasha Vujacic as the only point guards on the Lakers roster.
The Atkins trade was made shortly after Phil Jackson was re-hired to coach the team following a one-year layoff. Both sources said that Jackson would be able to reach the talented-but-erratic Williams, who has had difficulty getting along with coaches in the past.
“(Jackson) handled Dennis Rodman pretty well in Chicago, so I’m sure he could lay down the law with Williams,” the first source said. “Phil specializes in those kinds of things, I guess.”
Neither source indicated who the Lakers might trade to bring Williams to Los Angeles.
"I don't know about that," said the second source. "All I know is they don't think it would take much at this point. Not after Memphis signed Stoudamire."
Williams averaged 10.1 points and 5.6 assists per game last year for the 45-37 Grizzlies, who made the playoffs for the second straight season. Both of Memphis’ playoff appearances have come with Williams as the starting point guard -- although the Grizzlies were eliminated in the first round each time.
Williams, 29, has been in Memphis for four years after getting traded by Sacramento for Mike Bibby in 2001. Williams has never shot better than 41 percent from the floor and has a career field-goal percentage of 39.0.
The Lakers finished 34-48 and missed the playoffs last season -- their first after trading center Shaquille O’Neal to Miami.
Neither Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak nor Memphis president of basketball operations Jerry West could be reached for comment.
Ich wüsste nicht, was die Lakers für Williams groß bieten könnten, aber wenn sie ihn bekommen, dann werden sie hier ein paar Leute bei Mitch entschuldigen müssen...