Sean Williams Finds Second Chance at Home, Signs with Mavericks
DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) - I hope Sean Williams has grown up since he was last seen in the NBA. If that's the case maybe his shot blocking and defense can take center stage instead of his pot smoking and offensive behavior. When last he donned an official NBA game jersey, it was the 2009-2010 season. During that year he was arrested for violating a two year old restraining order that was granted to his former University, Boston College, and for smashing a computer monitor at a cell phone store after an argument with an employee. He got a felony charge for that beauty. He's back in the league today after agreeing to terms with the Mavericks.
After leaving Mansfield High School Sean Williams has embodied what David Stern works against. Drugs, violence, and a gangster persona. That might not be Williams, but that image is partially why he spent all of last season playing for the Texas Legends in the NBDL. A jumpshot couldn't hurt either.
Williams says he's not the horrible person the stories portray him to be, and for the sake of our local customer service reps I hope his statement is accurate, but I feel like I've seen this movie before and I know how it ends. Reminder DFW, I covered Portland for eleven years. Right around the time Dirk, Steve, and Finley were pulling their franchise out of a decade long drought, I was covering Rasheed, Damon, and Bonzi put on a clinic in drug busts and attitude problems. Yes, I am an expert in this field. It usually doesn't workout well but sometimes it does. Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson were once certified NBA bad boys (malice at palace video link), now they are in their 30s and they have grown up for the most part. As an adolescent Caron Butler was arrested 15 times before he turned 15, and he's turned out great. But those are the exceptions.
So the 25 year old Williams now gets his chance to get his fresh start. Two year deal, although as with all Dallas contracts this season, the second year is only partially guaranteed. It's a pretty good move for the team because they get a high talent at a low risk, they add froncourt depth, and if he finally blossoms the team has the option to keep him another year on the cheap. But don't be surprised if he doesn't make it the entire year without being released either for his game or being lame.
I always keep my fingers crossed that a kid like this figures things out before his athleticism begins to fade. There's a lot of money to be made in this league if you can just accept the fact that you can't get the full upgrade price on a new smartphone until your are 12 months in to your old contract.
