Kidd credits Knick assist for Williams



BY MITCH LAWRENCE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

So, Jason Kidd, did the Knicks screw up by not taking Marcus Williams with their first-round pick in June?
"I don't know," said Kidd, with a sly grin yesterday after practice.

The look seemed to give the Nets' superstar away.

"All I know is, we're happy to have him," he said. "He should have been in the lottery. He understands how to play. He can find the open guy. He can knock down shots. He loves to play. His future is very bright. He's going to be a good one."

If Kidd turns out to be right about Williams, the Knicks might rue the day they selected Renaldo Balkman at No. 20 over the former UConn star, even though the addition of Williams would have made for a crowded backcourt for Isiah Thomas. Williams has played only 39 minutes so far, but Kidd has seen enough of him in practice to get a feel for what the Nets have.

"I don't know what the Knicks, what they were (thinking)," he said. "But we feel like we got a lottery pick at 22."

Speaking of lottery picks named Williams who play the point, Kidd will get to go up against another one tomorrow night in the Meadowlands when the Nets play host to the Utah Jazz. After a so-so rookie season in which he and every other first-year player ran a distant second to the Hornets' Chris Paul for Rookie of the Year honors, Deron Williams has opened his second season with a flourish, averaging 6.7 assists and 1.3 turnovers through his first three games.

Kidd will see a lighter and quicker Williams than last year's model as the Nets try to improve to 2-1.

"Deron Williams looks like a totally different player," said one Western Conference executive. "Last year he was pudgy, but he's dropped some weight and he's way more athletic than he was last season." ... Richard Jefferson (left ankle) had sat out practice but is expected to play.

(just trying to lighten up the mood)

Thanks, Fish.

Now can you post highlight clips of the Rockets celebration in '94 and the Spurs celebration in '99? Maybe you can post of a clip of McDyess's pre-season injury a few years ago too.

I wonder what the other 20 teams that passes were thinking? I guess only the knicks can make such a terrible mistake.

The dude is a net. Let it go.

"I don't know what the Knicks, what they were (thinking)," he said. "

If someone can photoshop this with Isiah's picture instead of idiot's....er.....I mean Bush, I would be very grateful!

[Edited by - joec32033 on 11-07-2006 09:43 AM]

Posted by King1:

Jason how about worry about your wife and not who the Knicks drafted

Ditto. And by the way, when is this M. Williams d.ck riding going to end?

[Edited by - killa4luv on 11-07-2006 09:55 AM]

Posted by izybx:

I wonder what the other 20 teams that passes were thinking? I guess only the knicks can make such a terrible mistake.

The dude is a net. Let it go.

That really is my whole thing with this. 20 other teams pass on Williams and no other GM takes heat over passing him other than Isiah, when he had a Knicks team with 4 PGs under contract and a young PG in Nate that looks like he could be a starter. I fail to see why only Isiah seems to be the one who made the "huge mistake" in passing on Williams. Plus, I like Nate, who at the very least, is a better defender than Williams will ever be.

Posted by TheGame:

Posted by izybx:

I wonder what the other 20 teams that passes were thinking? I guess only the knicks can make such a terrible mistake.

The dude is a net. Let it go.

That really is my whole thing with this. 20 other teams pass on Williams and no other GM takes heat over passing him other than Isiah, when he had a Knicks team with 4 PGs under contract and a young PG in Nate that looks like he could be a starter. I fail to see why only Isiah seems to be the one who made the "huge mistake" in passing on Williams. Plus, I like Nate, who at the very least, is a better defender than Williams will ever be.

How many GMs passed on Balkman? What kind of backwards logic is that?

i wonder if Paul Pierce is scratching his head on why the Knicks passed up on Rajon Rondo too? this is ridiculous... no matter how good of a player Balkman turns out to be, it won't matter to some because we DEFINITELY could have had both him & MW w/those picks.

i have no problem criticizing Isiah for making bad picks, but so far he hasn't made any in my eyes... all his draft picks have proven to be solid NBA level players... maybe Balkman turns out to be a bust, maybe not... i think Isiah's earned the benefit of the doubt there if nothing else.

what gets me is the same guys who praise Isiah's eye for young talent are some of the same ones who are consistently killing him for taking Balkman over MW.

[Edited by - TMS on 11-07-2006 1:43 PM]

Posted by TMS:

i have no problem criticizing Isiah for making bad picks, but so far he hasn't made any in my eyes... all his draft picks have proven to be solid NBA level players... maybe Balkman turns out to be a bust, maybe not... i think Isiah's earned the benefit of the doubt there if nothing else.

what gets me is the same guys who praise Isiah's eye for young talent are some of the same ones who are consistently killing him for taking Balkman over MW.

[Edited by - TMS on 11-07-2006 1:43 PM]

So it's kind of like, a million dollars falls into your lap. Instead, you opt to go for $100,000 and give $900,000 to your neighbor, Mr. Net. Your argument is that you should be happy to have gotten anything? I guess.