Derrick Williams came into the league with big expectations on his shoulders. His stellar sophomore season at Arizona pegged him as the second overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. With that kind of hype, Minnesota had hopes of him developing into a star. Things didn’t quite go as planned though.
After a mediocre rookie and sophomore season, the Timberwolves traded Williams to Sacramento. Since then, Williams was bounced around as a backup role player to five different teams in six seasons. The expectations of stardom and fame that came with the second pick seemed to be far out of reach.
After being waived by the Miami Heat earlier this season, Williams was signed to a 10-day contract by the reigning champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland was looking for a spark plug to come off the bench and Williams was deemed worthy of a chance.
Over the past few years, it was obvious that Derrick Williams had become disillusioned with the game of basketball. His dreams hadn’t turned out the way he’d hoped and that disappointment often turned into disengagement on the court. He’d always had the physical tools to be a productive player, but he had struggled to lock in and show consistent effort since his days in Minnesota.
Cleveland has changed all that for Williams. When he signed a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers, it was essentially an audition. He had 10 days and four games to prove he was a valuable asset to a championship team. He took to the challenge and gave it all he had, earning himself a second 10-day contract and ultimately, a place on the team for the rest of the year.
Now that he’s passed his high-stakes audition, Williams will have to stay locked in and continue to be productive to keep his rotation spot. Playing alongside one of the best players in the history of the game, and for a team that is widely considered a lock for June should help quite a bit.
Cleveland has helped Williams show what he’s capable of, but it’s certainly a mutually beneficial relationship. Cleveland had struggled with poor bench play, and not having a consistent playmaker outside their starting lineup was something that LeBron made an effort to highlight. LeBron and Kyrie Irving were playing heavy minutes because there was no one else who could consistently create shots for themselves or others. Due to Williams’ athleticism, he has no problem getting to the rim or creating separation from a defender. He may not be the most consistent finisher, but his ability to create opportunities was exactly what Cleveland needed.
As Cleveland looks towards the postseason and their rotations begin to shorten, it’s unclear how many minutes Williams will receive in the playoffs. Kevin Love and JR Smith are coming back from injury soon, and there won’t be much playing time to go around. However, Williams has earned his minutes so far. If he can perform well enough for the rest of the season to cement his spot in the rotation, he’ll be playing on basketball’s highest stage.
Williams is only signed on for the rest of the year and will be a free agent in the upcoming offseason, but Cleveland will undoubtedly be looking to keep him around.
Williams is only 25 years old and with his physical tools, he still has the opportunity to become a star in this league. Cleveland has a history of revitalizing careers and keeping guys with problems focusing in check. Just ask JR Smith. Maybe Derrick Williams will follow the money and play somewhere else next season, but don’t be surprised if he decides to stick around. Cleveland has been a perfect fit so far and soon, it might become home.
