Duke guard fond of Bulls
Williams wants team back on top
By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter
June 8, 2002, 8:33 PM CDT
There are three things that Jay Williams, a New Jersey native, can't do.
He can't help the Nets beat the Los Angeles Lakers.
He can't change the game-tying free throw he missed against Indiana in the NCAA tournament, which some critics see as a blemish on an otherwise stellar college career.
And he can't wave his magic wand and turn into a certain No. 23.
"I'm not Michael Jordan," Williams said Saturday. "I love the fact that Chicago has had great success, but I think this town is past that. Let's move on. It's been a while. I just want to bring it back to where it was."
Williams, according to every league executive asked during last week's NBA predraft camp, can do plenty of other things. And he plans to when some team makes him a multimillionare in the NBA draft June 26.
There is talk that Golden State and the Clippers will make a late run to trade up and draft the former Duke point guard with the first overall pick. But all signs still point to the Bulls taking Williams with the second pick.
News out of Houston on Saturday has Chinese officials agreeing to meet with Rockets officials in China to reach an agreement on Yao Ming. Rockets officials appear willing to jump any political hurdle erected by the Chinese government to select Yao with the first pick.
Furthermore, Williams is telling friends and associates that he hopes to land in Chicago.
Williams sat with several other top draft prospects at a downtown hotel Saturday for the conclusion of the NBA predraft camp.
His words must have been music to Jerry Krause's ears. The Bulls' general manager is long tired of talk of the dismantled dynasty and believes he has assembled the pieces—Jalen Rose, Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Jamal Crawford—to return the Bulls to respectability.
Williams is confident he has the requisite playing and leadership skills to expedite that process if the Bulls draft him.
"I played in a program that has prepared me for the NBA," Williams said. "And I think my determination is something that will be the most valuable thing I'm going to bring to the team."
Williams acknowledged the delicate task of asserting leadership as a rookie, the so-called new kid on the block. But he sounded ready for the challenge.
"I'm going to make sure my team knows that it's not all right to lose," Williams said. "I think some teams get content with it, saying, 'We lost. We got next game.' I'm not like that.
"If we lose one game, everybody's going to know about it. If we lose another game, everybody's going to know about it even more. That's the person I am."
In that regard Williams is much like Rose, whom he has met once. Rose might be present when Williams works out for the Bulls later this week. Williams has worked out only for Golden State and said he has nothing scheduled for Houston.
Williams will stay in Chicago all week with his agent, Bill Duffy, and joked that he might start pricing real estate.
"Chicago would be a great fit," he said.
Williams' Duke teammate, Mike Dunleavy, met with Krause on Saturday as he continues to wrestle with his decision whether to enter the draft or return for his senior year. Dunleavy has yet to hire an agent and has until June 19 to make his decision.
"There's no wrong answer but there might be a better answer," Dunleavy said. "That's what I'm trying to find right now. Once I make the decision, I won't look back."
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Take that, MJeff and Scottie. Your days of influencing players are over. Jay is making it awfully tough for me to favor a swap for Baron Davis. Between now and 6/26 I'm going to have to start thinking in terms of Jay as the Bulls starting PG and go from there.
Williams wants team back on top
By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter
June 8, 2002, 8:33 PM CDT
There are three things that Jay Williams, a New Jersey native, can't do.
He can't help the Nets beat the Los Angeles Lakers.
He can't change the game-tying free throw he missed against Indiana in the NCAA tournament, which some critics see as a blemish on an otherwise stellar college career.
And he can't wave his magic wand and turn into a certain No. 23.
"I'm not Michael Jordan," Williams said Saturday. "I love the fact that Chicago has had great success, but I think this town is past that. Let's move on. It's been a while. I just want to bring it back to where it was."
Williams, according to every league executive asked during last week's NBA predraft camp, can do plenty of other things. And he plans to when some team makes him a multimillionare in the NBA draft June 26.
There is talk that Golden State and the Clippers will make a late run to trade up and draft the former Duke point guard with the first overall pick. But all signs still point to the Bulls taking Williams with the second pick.
News out of Houston on Saturday has Chinese officials agreeing to meet with Rockets officials in China to reach an agreement on Yao Ming. Rockets officials appear willing to jump any political hurdle erected by the Chinese government to select Yao with the first pick.
Furthermore, Williams is telling friends and associates that he hopes to land in Chicago.
Williams sat with several other top draft prospects at a downtown hotel Saturday for the conclusion of the NBA predraft camp.
His words must have been music to Jerry Krause's ears. The Bulls' general manager is long tired of talk of the dismantled dynasty and believes he has assembled the pieces—Jalen Rose, Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Jamal Crawford—to return the Bulls to respectability.
Williams is confident he has the requisite playing and leadership skills to expedite that process if the Bulls draft him.
"I played in a program that has prepared me for the NBA," Williams said. "And I think my determination is something that will be the most valuable thing I'm going to bring to the team."
Williams acknowledged the delicate task of asserting leadership as a rookie, the so-called new kid on the block. But he sounded ready for the challenge.
"I'm going to make sure my team knows that it's not all right to lose," Williams said. "I think some teams get content with it, saying, 'We lost. We got next game.' I'm not like that.
"If we lose one game, everybody's going to know about it. If we lose another game, everybody's going to know about it even more. That's the person I am."
In that regard Williams is much like Rose, whom he has met once. Rose might be present when Williams works out for the Bulls later this week. Williams has worked out only for Golden State and said he has nothing scheduled for Houston.
Williams will stay in Chicago all week with his agent, Bill Duffy, and joked that he might start pricing real estate.
"Chicago would be a great fit," he said.
Williams' Duke teammate, Mike Dunleavy, met with Krause on Saturday as he continues to wrestle with his decision whether to enter the draft or return for his senior year. Dunleavy has yet to hire an agent and has until June 19 to make his decision.
"There's no wrong answer but there might be a better answer," Dunleavy said. "That's what I'm trying to find right now. Once I make the decision, I won't look back."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take that, MJeff and Scottie. Your days of influencing players are over. Jay is making it awfully tough for me to favor a swap for Baron Davis. Between now and 6/26 I'm going to have to start thinking in terms of Jay as the Bulls starting PG and go from there.
