The Nets happily grabbed Sean Williams with the 17th pick in the 2007 draft, looking beyond his checkered history and seeing Rodman-like potential in the 6-foot-10 jumping-jack forward with the flexible, shot-blocking wingspan.
Now, as he prepares for his third pro season, Williams is playing for his NBA career. The Nets have until Oct. 31 to pick up Williams’ contract option and it is likely, almost certain, they will pass. His contributions and potential have been overshadowed by a perceived laissez-faire attitude and a series of bad decisions that landed him, among other places, in anger management classes.
“Everybody knows I have the skills to be effective as a player, but they worry about my professionalism,” said Williams, who is second — second! — in seniority on the Nets behind Josh Boone. “A lot of other people worry if I can be a professional on and off the court. They’re asking, ‘Is he accountable and responsible?’ And I’m trying to focus on that.
“Getting ready for my third year, I’m going to take the experience I’ve had in the past and build on it,” Williams added in his most politically correct tone. “I just want to fit in and help this team any way I can to get to our goals.”
Above all, Williams wants “consistency,” something the Nets have sought since he came out of Boston College, where he had been thrown off the basketball team for marijuana offenses. The Nets gambled, and though there have been flashes of his ability — like eight blocks in one game as a rookie — there haven’t been enough. At the open scrimmage on Saturday, he outplayed Yi Jianlian. On Sunday, in the preseason opener, he fouled out in 14 minutes.
“He’s actually played very well,” team president Rod Thorn said. “Last year, he played pretty good. This year, he’s played the best I’ve ever seen him play. [Saturday] he was fantastic.”
But Williams’ pre-Season Three surge probably will not be enough to sway the Nets to keep him. They first recall him being arrested in phone store in suburban Denver or his utterly unacceptable behavior when he was dispatched to the D-League. Essentially, Williams has two strikes and is facing a Mariano cutter.
“The only thing I’m trying to concentrate on is proving myself as a professional in this league,” said Williams, who is seeking a backup forward-center job with the Nets. “I like this team. I know I’m a good person and every day I try to get better. That translates to everything in your life when you’re trying to be a better, positive person.”