Atlanta Hawks: Hawks agree to terms with free-agent guard Louis Williams
The Hawks and free-agent guard Lou Williams have agreed to a multiyear contract, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement.
Terms of the deal were not immediately known but the Hawks likely will sign Williams by using part of their mid-level salary-cap exception. The person with knowledge of the deal said the contract would allow the Hawks to maintain the salary-cap flexibility they gained by recently agreeing to trade Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams.
Williams opted out of the final year of his contract with Philadelphia, which was to pay him $5.4 million in 2012-13.
The deal can’t become official until the NBA’s moratorium on most transactions ends Wednesday.
Williams, 25, is a former star at South Gwinnett High school, where he was a two-time Mr. Basketball winner and a McDonald’s All-American. After committing to Georgia, he decided to declare for the 2005 draft and was selected by Philadelphia in the second round. He played in 455 games with Philadelphia, mostly as a reserve.
Williams figures to fill a similar bench-scoring role with the Hawks. Once Atlanta completes the trades involving Johnson and Williams and secures a buyout of Jordan Farmar, the team will have five guards on the roster in addition to Williams: Jeff Teague, Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, John Jenkins and DeShawn Stevenson.
Williams led the Sixers in scoring last season with 14.9 points in 26.3 minutes per game and posted team-best PER marks in the past two seasons. He finished second to Thunder guard James Harden in voting for the 2011-12 NBA Sixth Man Award.
Williams is smallish combo guard who’s a volume shooter with a so-so jump shot. But he manages to be a fairly efficient scorer because of a very good free-throw rate. Last season Williams ranked sixth in scoring rate among point guards who played at least 25 minutes per game.
The Sixers allowed 3.38 fewer points per 100 possessions with Williams on the bench. Williams had a 12.1 opposing PER against against point guards and 11.9 against shooting guards.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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232 comments Add your comment
BIG DOG
July 10th, 2012
8:57 pm
Lou, Gerald, Pietrus, Josh, D12
Pargo, Jenkins, Turk, Ivan, Collins
Petro, Scott, Morrow
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
8:58 pm
If they do get Dwight, and this team is going to have Lou, A-Mo, Josh, and Dwight on the same team, it is a damn crime if they don’t come out to ATLiens on opening night.
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
8:59 pm
Big Dog, but not acquiring Turkaglu.
Najeh, in a perfect world, Lou doesn’t play more than 8 minutes at PG… he needs to play a good 20+ minutes at SG.
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
8:59 pm
Big Dog, by not acquiring Hedo.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
8:59 pm
Horford + Harris + the two 2013 first round picks for Dwight and J-Rich is a better offer than whatever poo poo platter the Nets are offering.
KevinM
July 10th, 2012
9:01 pm
Hawks or Bulls talking to Jonny Flynn….Danny making a play.
Our PGs could be on the move very soon.
SuckerFree
July 10th, 2012
9:02 pm
I like gunners though because they have no conscious whatsoever. No moment is too big and if push comes to shove they will take that shot.
As long as there aren’t 4 or 5 gunners on a team I’m perfectly fine with it. As a 6th man that’s exactly the player I want you to be. Jack it up. Harden, Crawford, Lou Williams, Nate Robinson, Nick Young, Marshon Brooks….same guy.
That’s the reason Lou can’t start though. That mentality is good in spurts. So Devin Harris will have to start (even though he’s kind of a gunner himself…sorta).
I just can’t see Teague starting over Devin Harris so basically that would mean shipping Teague off.
KevinM
July 10th, 2012
9:03 pm
Add Bill Walker to the list….he worked out for us and Cleveland…
How hot is Danny’s Blackberry?
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
9:03 pm
I wonder where the commenter “You Should Stop Posting” is. Seems to have been sorely needed about 45 minutes ago.
Rufus1
July 10th, 2012
9:04 pm
Lou will shoot better in ATL….
We have better offensive weapons, so he will have more room to operate…
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
9:04 pm
Harris was better than Teague 4 years ago, not so much anymore.
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:05 pm
Ferry (if he pulls off the Dwight trade) needs to add some savvy. Too bad Jason Kidd and Camby and guys with BIG basketball brains have already landed elsewhere. I know some around here believe that bigger, bouncier and faster athletes are the end all and be all… but if we’re trying to do more than just excite a fan base by crashing into the same 2nd round ceiling, this squad will need a few players who have an elite understanding of the science of the game. Based on position need, a Grant Hill type would be sweet.
Ra'mon
July 10th, 2012
9:08 pm
AJ, Believe it or not calling on Kurt Thomas wouldn’t be a bad move either. Better than Dampier, lol.
sco
July 10th, 2012
9:08 pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:08 pm
I’d be shocked if Orlando takes Harris and not Teague. And I also think Jenkins gets gone as well. Flynn makes more sense as Harris’ back-up than as Teague’s (same draft class). Bill Walker is a nice player and would be a good add… but surely Ferry recognizes the need to add some brain power to this squad (considering his San Antonio roots).
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:10 pm
Ra’mon, you’re forgetting… Petro is our 3rd center. But yeah, I’ve been bumping ofr Kurt Thomas for a few years. Kurt Thomas and Adonal Foyle (lol).
SuckerFree
July 10th, 2012
9:10 pm
Grant Hill! make it happen
Snoop Graham
July 10th, 2012
9:11 pm
Good signing. The only stupid thing I see in these posts is you people still think Josh Smith has a future here. I read a blog the other day in this rag of a newspaper that Josh Smith was unhappy with Danny Ferry’s moves so far. Ferry is a Duke educated man and Smith is a guy with a High School Diploma which was probably handed to him after skating through High School and not going to class. I’d like to see his SAT score. Bottom line is who gives a rats ass what he thinks. The sooner Ferry can get him out of here the better. You don’t build around TRASH.
tyger
July 10th, 2012
9:13 pm
2013-2014 Hawks:
Lou Williams
John Jenkins
Al Horford
only players signed beyond this season
Mike
July 10th, 2012
9:13 pm
I been reading up on that LAL/HOU/ORL i believe that
1) That deal sucks for ORL again but this time they get rookies and picks
2) Setting up another superteam in LAL
3) I think that LAL has Houston FO on payroll.
rakpat
July 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
Danny Ferry is pulling off some impressive moves……Williams is a great addition.
Folks…..this is just the beginning……imagine 1 year from now, or 2-3 years.
MattP
July 10th, 2012
9:16 pm
If Danny is trying to sign Flynn that means Teague is gone.
BIG DOG
July 10th, 2012
9:17 pm
Astro Joe – No Grant.
If thats the case bring Tmac and Stackhouse.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Rick James
July 10th, 2012
9:17 pm
O yeah!! Gerald Green next please!!!
BasketballTopFan
July 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
Acquiring Louis Williams is a good move for the Atlanta Hawks and a tremendous loss for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Hawks fans anxiously await the start of the 2012/2013 NBA season.
Keep up the good work GM Danny Ferry.
BasketballTopFan@yahoo.com
LakeDawg
July 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
Dayum! I thought the Hawks were trapped by all of these big salaries. Stuck with JJ and Marvin. What happened? Oh, they brought in a basketball guy. Good job Mr. Ferry. Williams is as good as JJ for a lot less
Rusty
July 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
I think it would be very stupid to get rid of JT.
BIG DOG
July 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
Why would Hawks sign Jonny Flynn ?
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
Michael Cunningham @ajchawks
#Hawks have no usable cap space MT @NBAPR: The NBA salary cap for 2012-13 season set at $58.044M. The tax level set at $70.307M.
Like I said earlier, the suggestion that Ferry has cleared up a “ton of cap space” for the current summer is just WRONG. We saved some immediate money on the Joe deal… but not much.
SirTolbert
July 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
We have way too many guards now. Something else has to be happening soon. But at the moment, we still have a decent team that would put up a winning/.500 record.
tidog
July 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
Snoop Graham, Josh went on to the NBA out of high school to make millions. The SAT isnt’t a NBA requirement.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
9:23 pm
Cap and luxury tax numbers for this year have been released. Same as last year: $58 million cap, $70 million LT.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
9:23 pm
” the suggestion that Ferry has cleared up a “ton of cap space” for the current summer is just WRONG.”
True, but the clearing of cap space is for next summer when Dwight and CP3 are free agents.
NOW WHAT?
July 10th, 2012
9:25 pm
According to the AJC’s Michael Cunningham, Ferry has reached out the Magic in hopes to swing a deal that would bring Dwight Howard back to his hometown of Atlanta.
The Hawks have engaged the Magic in trade talks involving Howard, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. That person did not want to be identified because the teams involved have not discussed the negotiations publicly.
The Hawks could offer Orlando better players than the Nets. But Atlanta could run the risk of trading away valuable assets only to lose Howard in free agency when his contract expires after next season.
Howard has given no indication he’s willing to commit beyond next season to any team other than Brooklyn. He recently told Yahoo Sports that if a team other than the Nets acquired him, he planned to play out his contract and become a free agent next summer.
Truth be told, this is probably the best trade partner Orlando will find. And if we want to completely tell the truth, it’s probably the best place for Howard to land.
He would be able to team up with Al Horford or Josh Smith, whichever doesn’t get shipped to Orlando, and he can spend all next season convincing Chris Paul to join him. All the while, he’d be the biggest star in a growing Atlanta market. Win-win for both Orlando and Atlanta.
But of course, Howard won’t realize this and will squash any chance of this happening by threatening not to re-sign in Atlanta.
Buddy Grizzard
July 10th, 2012
9:25 pm
“Devin Harris>Jeff Teague”
Crack is wack.
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:26 pm
Big Dog, because Devin (or more likely Teague) may be gone in a Howard deal. And because you don;t want Lou getting extensive minutes at PG.
TMac? Good on the court but I sense not so good off the court. Stackhouse is likely retiring. I’d prefer someone who will get 20+ minutes, not someone simply waving a towel in the air… we can get ML Carr to serve that role.
jhan
July 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
Buddy – I agree. Harris is not better than Teague right now. Keep Teague if at all possible.
Rev in Tampa
July 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
Astro Joe,
I saw MC’s tweet as well. But I don’t know what it means practically. Does it affect the Dwightstakes?
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
Najeh, I know that and have been saying it for days. Someone posted an ESPN tweet claiming the cap space was this summer…. which is what I am saying is wrong.
LakeDawg
July 10th, 2012
9:29 pm
Snoop Graham
I hope you’re right about Smooove. Moooove him outta here.
GA.BOY72
July 10th, 2012
9:32 pm
D12 is next, so let the ATL “jump off” begin!!! The Heat have set the bar, and given their ages they will contend for yrs. Dwight is the missing piece for either the Nets or the Hawks in the East, so landing him is imperitive. Hey Dwight, the city needs you, and that #12 jersey could use some real playing time! No offense “Speedy” or Josh Powell. You too John Battle! lol….
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:33 pm
Rev, not at all. Howard makes around $19M so Hawks would need that much going back to the Magic. Something like Horford+Teague+Petro+Jenkins and draft pick would likely get you there. So would Horford+Harris (and picks) but I doubt seriously that Orlando would take that package.
It does mean that all subsequent free agent signings will be vet minimum players.
Rev in Tampa
July 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
AJ, THANKS!
pointguardslim
July 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/backyard/dwight_howard_reportedly_nearly_came_to_blows_with_jameer_nelson_during_season/11131385?refmod=yardbar_backyard&refpos=art_2
ClassicHawks
July 10th, 2012
9:36 pm
Hawks as constructed if they get a Big who can shoot like Chris Kaman is a better team than last year in my honest opinion.
But Danny Ferry is about to make a major move and i think it’s gonna be Dwight Howard. I think they are gonna roll the dice because they will have his “Birds Rights” and they know this is his home. Plus New Jersey will not be able to sign him unless they amnesty Joe next season. I really believe the Hawks are gonna roll the dice, and if they do, I will finally become a season ticket holder…
Columbus
July 10th, 2012
9:36 pm
Teague has good potential to be a good defender. He has shown it in the past. The moves coming next should be VERY interesting Anything could happen. Could be HUGE or could be short-term fix and a small splash. Its going to be interesting to see which direction Ferry goes and what he is able to pull off…..
Horford is pretty good on defense when he is HEALTHY and in HIS natural position
Snoop Graham
July 10th, 2012
9:38 pm
Where in the hell did I put my weed? Or…. did I… did I smoke the s hit up? Fck. who got some good weed?
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:39 pm
loks like Lou ot around $5M. But we don’t know the length of the deal.
Jason Walker @JasonWalkerSBN
Given the @NBA release on cap numbers, the MLE that the Hawks would have based on the cap standing would be $5.0M.
pointguardslim
July 10th, 2012
9:40 pm
SNoop Graham only smokes wooly’s and crack.
Don Rickles.
July 10th, 2012
9:40 pm
Horford is pretty good on defense when he is HEALTHY and in HIS natural position LMAO this aint april 1st is it?