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
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:41 pm
Jason Walker @JasonWalkerSBN
So the Lou Williams deal for the Hawks couldn’t be more than 4 years, 21.4 million given a 5M start point and 4.5% raises.
Don Rickles.
July 10th, 2012
9:42 pm
Devin Harris is much better than teague and more intelligent and a true point guard.
2011 Utah NBA 63 11.3 5.0 1.8 27.6 44.5% 74.6% 36.2% 0.2
2010 Utah NBA 17 15.8 5.4 2.4 31.2 41.3% 81.1% 35.7% 0.1
2010 Total NJ/Uth NBA 71 15.2 7.1 2.4 31.7 42.2% 83.3% 32.2% 0.1
2010 New Jersey NBA 54 15.0 7.6 2.4 31.9 42.5% 84% 30% 0.1
2009 New Jersey NBA 64 16.9 6.6 3.2 34.7 40.3% 79.8% 27.6% 0.3
2008 New Jersey NBA 69 21.3 6.9 3.3 36.1 43.8% 82% 29.1% 0.2
Don Rickles.
July 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
G PPG APG RPG MPG FG% FT% 3PT% BLKPG
Devin Harris is much better than teague and more intelligent and a true point guard.
2011 Utah NBA 63 11.3 5.0 1.8 27.6 44.5% 74.6% 36.2% 0.2
2010 Utah NBA 17 15.8 5.4 2.4 31.2 41.3% 81.1% 35.7% 0.1
2010 Total NJ/Uth NBA 71 15.2 7.1 2.4 31.7 42.2% 83.3% 32.2% 0.1
2010 New Jersey NBA 54 15.0 7.6 2.4 31.9 42.5% 84% 30% 0.1
2009 New Jersey NBA 64 16.9 6.6 3.2 34.7 40.3% 79.8% 27.6% 0.3
2008 New Jersey NBA 69 21.3 6.9 3.3 36.1 43.8% 82% 29.1% 0.2
Hawkeye
July 10th, 2012
9:45 pm
Dwight Howard comin’ to Atlanta,don’t hold your breath,Lou Williams is a good move regardless where he is from,not a precursor for a trade for Howard……………
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
9:45 pm
Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
Hawks, I’m told, still think they’re alive in Dwight trade chase. With plenty of pieces to offer and Josh Smith to lobby Howard to stay
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Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
9:46 pm
If Devin Harris is on this roster to start the season, I wonder what will happen if Ludacris comes to a game and they see each other. Maybe it will be like this
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:48 pm
Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
Hawks, I’m told, still think they’re alive in Dwight trade chase. With plenty of pieces to offer and Josh Smith to lobby Howard to stay.
ClassicHawks
July 10th, 2012
9:48 pm
Kaman
Horford
J Smoove
the New J.J. or A. Morrow
J. Teague
BENCH
L. Williams
Zaza
9 to 5
Devin Harris
Stevenson
Come on this team is just as good if not better than last year. Kinda like the Nuggets but we have better players than them honestly. A shooting Big Like Kaman will do wonders for Al and Josh, if we have to go with what we have. We will remain competitive, but I really believe we are gonna get Dwight. That is still blowing my mind because I never thought that would be possible in a 100 years!!!!
alex
July 10th, 2012
9:49 pm
if after all hawks going to land DH my deep sorry to 90% pundits and experts from suppose to be neutral ESPN, but really kissing everything on big markets team – NY, LA, BOSTON, and for some unknown me reason hate ATLANTA, worry they going to get heard attack.
Mr.E
July 10th, 2012
9:49 pm
If anything bringing Lou in makes me think Ferry is definitely going for D12. There are just too many guards to not assume that he’s thinking about losing one them.
Also:
Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
Hawks, I’m told, still think they’re alive in Dwight trade chase. With plenty of pieces to offer and Josh Smith to lobby Howard to stay
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
9:52 pm
Anyone else want to post the Marc Stein tweet?
Ray
July 10th, 2012
9:52 pm
Jeff Teague > Devin Harris
Trust me as of right now yes Harris was an all-star, but that’s the key word was.
Not only that using that joke of a game to ever justify someone over another it’s down right stupid.
Plus Teague is younger many more years ahead of him vs. Harris who is aging and who knows how fast. We don’t know if he’ll be Mike Bibby or Steve Nash.
G.Johnson
July 10th, 2012
9:53 pm
I love Danny Ferry and job he is doing by adding fresh and new. I hope we can get D12 soon or someone to mix in the else.
jlewis
July 10th, 2012
9:54 pm
The Hawks are not seriously going after dwight howard, they just dumped salary because the owners didnt want to pay, not to win a championship. They want you to believe they are going after dwight, if he doesnt come, which he won’t, they can say they are trying to bring a winner, and scapegoat dwight like most have done JJ. Lou Williams a 7 time all star, oh, thats what he has to be to be better than JJ. No CP3, most people are naming players, that arent close to the players we had on the roster last year. THIS TEAM WILL BE MOVED…there is no money to be made in the ATL, without a superstar, and there is not one coming.
Wabe
July 10th, 2012
9:55 pm
ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Hawks, I’m told, still think they’re alive in Dwight trade chase. With plenty of pieces to offer and Josh Smith to lobby Howard to stay
Wabe
July 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
For you AJ
Lottery Team
July 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
Kaman
Horford
J Smoove
the New J.J. or A. Morrow
J. Teague
Grandad
July 10th, 2012
10:01 pm
Breaking News:
Danny Ferry hired as Hawks GM !
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
Wabe.
Lottery Team
July 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
Harris is 29, hasnt peak. Knows how to distribute the rock, has speed, and size, can score and is a man. and has smarts.
Teague is young dumb, and doent have the skill set of Harris nor the maturity.
Harris> Teague
no brainer
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2012
10:04 pm
AJ I’ll post it again if you want
DaJuice
July 10th, 2012
10:05 pm
ATL….Lou Will-Ville
Columbus
July 10th, 2012
10:06 pm
Ferry is NOT going to offer/trade with Orlando UNLESS Howard WILL SIGN WITH THE HAWKS. A trade can probably be worked out between the teams BUT Dwight has to sign a deal with the Hawks and that is probably true for ALL teams. Even the Nets. Howard might get there and change his mind unless he is ONLY wanting to go to the Nets to drain the owner for everything he is worth with holdouts, raises, extensions, etc. If that was my plan the Nets would be the ONLY place to go too. Maybe the ATL connections will sway Dwight more than money…. doubt it but its possible. Josh would have to want to stay of course and also recruit Dwight.
But I like Danny Ferry’s post earlier and nobody commented on that signing Lou was to keep Josh in ATL and not to get Dwight. If it did make Dwight take another look at ATL great. But it was for resigning Josh.
ntrigue
July 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
I hope Pape Sy, Derick Caracter, Cedric Benson, and Jeremy Hazell make the team. They give us quality depth a combination of shooters, shot blockers, perimeter defense, and and guards that drive to the basket and get to the line. Were definitly deeper than last year with this group once they get chemistry our 2nd unit will be fun to watch! Especially when you add Ivan, Jenkins, and Mike Scott to the mix.
Devil's Advocate
July 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
I had a DRE today. Best ever…
Joe
July 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
Georgia needs a championship in any sport
ntrigue
July 10th, 2012
10:08 pm
Stevenson and Petro will be likely be traded or cut.
Astro Joe
July 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
I think Lou was added to the roster because ths team lacked a closer. What other playoff-tested “closers” were available for $5M? I think Ferry is making basketball moves, not trying to create that Atlanta Avengers (bruthas, assemble!). What he doesn’t want to see from his arena seat is a poorly executed play that breaks down and we don’t have a guy capable of making something out of nothing.
Mr.E
July 10th, 2012
10:14 pm
David Aldridge @daldridgetnt
Hate to rain on yet another parade, but…Lakers-Rockets-Magic deal not likely at moment. The latest on the HT Blog: http://on.nba.com/LNtnxh
Doesn’t hurt…
Rusty
July 10th, 2012
10:17 pm
JT is more explosive ,faster,younger &plays much better defense than Harris,will be much better without JJ pounding the ball.
Michael Cunningham
July 10th, 2012
10:20 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.
Atlanta Hawks: Hawks agree to terms with free-agent guard Louis Williams | Atlanta Informer
July 12th, 2012
5:08 pm
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