Report: Hornets Sign Marvin Williams
For the longest time, Marvin Williams was looking for an identity. His great physical gifts and a nice jumper vaulted him to the number 2 pick of the 2005 draft, ahead of all of his National Champion teammates. The problem was that he was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks who were still in the phase of picking up 6’9” guys that they did not know what to do with.
More from Charlotte Hornets
- Charlotte Hornets: Return would have provided valuable experience
- Charlotte Hornets: Regrading the 2010 NBA Draft
- Charlotte Hornets win what could be final game of the season
- Charlotte Hornets: Tank now or buzz towards the playoffs?
- Charlotte Hornets travel to face Pistons with focus on the future
Williams was expected to be a two way small forward, and the hope was that he would evolve into what Paul George is now. Atlanta also tried to pigeon hole Williams into the three spot because they already had someone at the power forward spot. That was second year man Josh Smith, who did not have the shooting touch to play out on the perimeter.
The result was trying to get Williams to do something that he ultimately was not meant for. He made the Second Team All-NBA Rookie Team, but Williams plateaued as a 12 pt/game and 5 rb/game guy for Atlanta. Williams was traded to Utah in exchange for point guard Devin Harris. The move to Utah allowed Williams to rediscover his true position, a stretch four.
Live Feed
FanSided
When Williams played for North Carolina in 2004-5, his position was essentially a stretch four playing on the other side from Sean May. That allowed Marvin to play to his strengths. In Utah, Marvin played off of players like Al Jefferson. Now Marvin is following Jefferson to Charlotte, according to reports from Yahoo’s Sports’ Marc J Spears for two years and $14 million.
Williams is expected to be the bridge between the present and when Noah Vonleh will be ready to man that stretch four spot on his own. This was going to be Josh McRoberts’ job, until he was stolen away by the Miami Heat in their ultimately futile attempt to keep LeBron. This also means that Cody Zeller’s minutes will likely come from the 5 spot as Big Al’s backup instead of the power forward spot.
This is another move by Cho to secure a piece. Now we just need a shooting guard and a backup point guard and everything will be gravy. There is money to do this, since we did not sign Gordon Hayward.