Miami Heat: Should Sean Williams Be Taken Seriously as a Possible Option?

Earlier this week, we came across a rumor that had the Miami Heat’s interest focusing on recently waived center, Sean Williams.

Williams, cut by the Houston Rockets following an offseason trade, had spent the previous year in between stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics. The 25-year-old had the most deflating season of his three-year career, averaging 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per and playing in only 11 games. In three games with the Celtics, Williams made two field-goals.

Before then, Williams was believed to have some potential withheld. Taken with the 17th pick of the the 2007 NBA Draft, Williams would start 29 games for the New Jersey Nets, putting up solid numbers in his rookie season with averages of 5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per.

However, he greatly regressed in his sophomore season and would play only 33 games. He found himself struggling in his third year, failing to garner any sort of significant minutes and playing only 20 games in what would be his last season with the Nets after getting waived in January. He’d sign with Dallas in October, get cut a day later and signed again with Dallas in December before getting waived for a second time in March.

Yes, Sean Williams was cut by the same team twice in the same season.

Williams would sign with Boston in April, even playing in two playoff games, but would inevitably get traded to the Houston Rockets as a part of the deal that sent Courtney Lee to the Celtics. Williams was waived a month later and now finds himself drawing interest from several teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Miami Heat.

Both teams would use him as filler and not much else. With the Heat, however, he may find a more significant role in the regular season rotation if he somehow turns it around. With Dexter Pittman and Joel Anthony as the Heat’s centers outside of Chris Bosh, Miami will go for anything that remotely represents consistency. Although Williams hasn’t exactly been the definition of untapped potential, he’s still young and could be willing to play for the minimum just for a job.

At 6’10”, 235-pounds, this move wouldn’t hurt the Heat. Williams would get plenty of time playing at the five when Bosh hits the bench and it would be up to him on whether or not he would want to receive playing time. If you’re a center on this team, it only takes a few solid games to earn as high up as a starting job. While that may not be the case anymore, the Heat are likely to use Bosh at the five, Williams would have a significant role early on if he can prove to be a banger.

Perhaps all he needs is a second chance. However, the lack of interest is disheartening and with a few other centers in play, the Heat may just want to pass on Williams for an established presence. Miami already has one project in Pittman and they don’t need to waste a roster space on a big man who won’t be able to hold their own on either end of the floor.

Age may be on his side, but that may not bode well for a Heat team that’s in a win-now mode. As I stated with Dexter’s position on this team, the Heat don’t need to waste their time and energy hoping that a former draft bust will get things going. In the past, this team has gone after the established veterans–Ronny Turiaf, Mike Bibby and Erick Dampier–rather than chasing after a young free agent.

When it comes down to it, expect the Heat to possibly go after Chris Andersen, if they do intend to pick up an imposing presence that can play as a deterrent in the regular season.