NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
Mark Williams. The acquisition came moments after the Phoenix Suns drafted Khaman Maluach, leaving many people confused. It was obvious Phoenix already had a deal lined up with the Charlotte Hornets before the draft even started. Then the Duke center falls into their lap at 10, and the Suns still execute the trade to acquire another Duke center anyway. A team that had almost no depth at center suddenly had plenty of it. They also had a built-in succession plan.
Advertisement
The question with Williams was always the same. Can he stay healthy? Because if he can, the skill set is there for him to be a quality starting center in the NBA. He rim runs. He has strong hands. He provides rim deterrence. The wingspan is massive. Above all else, he runs. The motor is real.
That’s what made this season important. The Suns essentially got a test drive. They acquired him on a $6.3 million contract with a team option, one they ultimately picked up, and now they have a clearer picture of what he is heading into restricted free agency.
So now comes the next phase of the Mark Williams conversation. Do you bring him back? And if you do, how much are you willing to pay?
I’ll start by acknowledging that Mark Williams had a good year for the Phoenix Suns. He exceeded expectations relative to games played, appearing in 60 contests and blowing past his previous career high by 15 games. When called upon, the production was there. He averaged 11.7 points on 64.4% shooting, adding 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
Advertisement
Part of me still wonders what it could have looked like if the Suns leaned into him more offensively. It felt like whenever they involved him, the results were positive. Too often, the team drifted back toward perimeter-heavy basketball, and Williams’ overall numbers suffered because of it.
As the season wore on,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/case-signing-mark-williams-230000246.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-05-11 23:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
