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Former NBA forward Derrick Williams signs in Spain with Valencia Basket

In international basketball news, former NBA forward Derrick Williams, listed at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, has signed in Spain. Per Eurocupbasketball.com:

Valencia Basket added explosiveness and experience to its roster with the signing of power forward Derrick Williams on a one-year contract, the club announced Wednesday. One of the most acrobatic players in the competition and an expert at alley-oop finishes, Williams (2.03 meters, 29 years old) arrives from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, where he averaged 11.3 points and 3.9 rebounds over 28 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season.

Williams’ played in the NBA between 2011-18, though he played just two NBA games in the 2017-18 season. His NBA career average is 8.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per outing. It’s possible he could get back into the league at some point, but for now, overseas is his spot.

Derrick Williams participates in Pistons mini-camp

Team mini-camps are typically for free agents who haven’t really proven themselves in the NBA yet. There are exceptions, of course. But generally, if you’ve been in the league for a while, having to participate in a free agent mini-camp isn’t a positive sign. Here’s Michigan Live reporting on the Pistons and Derrick Williams:

Seven years after being the second overall selection in the NBA draft, Derrick Williams participated this week in Detroit Pistons free-agent mini-camp, trying to work his way back into the league.

He worked out with 17 others at the Pistons practice facility, most with no NBA experience, several who played for the G League Grand Rapids Drive this past season.

It might have humbling for the 2010-11 Pac 10 player of the year at Arizona, a someone who the Minnesota Timberwolves took one pick after Kyrie Irving, ahead of players such as Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker and Isaiah Thomas.

But it’s part of the process that Williams hopes will lead to a free-agent contract or at least a training camp tryout with a team.

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Cavs sign Derrick Williams for remainder of season

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Derrick Williams to a contract for the remainder of the season, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Williams (6-8, 245) has appeared in nine games with the Cavaliers this season, averaging 10.3 points on .561 shooting from the field and 3.1 rebounds in 24.2 minutes. He originally signed with the Cavs on Feb. 9, the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts. Prior to joining Cleveland, he played in 25 games (11 starts) with Miami this season and averaged 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes.

Playing in his sixth NBA season, Williams has appeared in 410 games (112 starts) with Minnesota, Sacramento, New York, Miami and Cleveland and holds career averages of 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 21.1 minutes. He was drafted out of Arizona as the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Timberwolves and earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2012.

Cavs sign Derrick Williams to 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Derrick Williams to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today.

Williams (6-8, 245) appeared in 25 games (11 starts) with Miami this season and averaged 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes. Over his six-year NBA career, Williams has played in 401 games (112 starts) with Minnesota, Sacramento, New York and Miami, while averaging 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 21.0 minutes. He was waived by the Heat on February 6.

Timberwolves exercise contract options on Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has exercised its fourth-year options on guard Ricky Rubio and forward Derrick Williams.

Rubio, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, joined the Wolves in 2011-12 and has played 98 games with the club. He holds career averages of 10.7 points, 7.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game, including setting the franchise single-season steals mark last year (2.40 spg). As a rookie in 2011-12, Rubio was named to NBA’s All-Rookie First Team after averaging 10.6 points, 8.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

Williams, the second overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, has appeared in 144 games (71 starts) with the club, holding career averages of 10.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Williams started 56 games in 2012-13 and averaged 14.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 40 games (all starts) over the last three months of the season.

Wolves to pick up Derrick Williams, Ricky Rubio contract options

The Wolves will pick up Derrick Williams’ $6.7 million contract option for 2014-15 and do the same with Ricky Rubio’s $5 million option as well, a team source confirms.

The decision on Rubio’s contract before next week’s season opener is nothing but a formality.

The Williams’ decision pretty much was one, too, despite all the Internet chatter whether they’d really commit to another contract that could leave them fairly handcuffed right near the luxury tax.

Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Blog)