After missing 12 games, Ziaire Williams has had his best run of the season,
There’s been a lot of speculation about what the Brooklyn Nets will do with Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe, their two 2021 first round draft picks who are restricted free agents this summer. But the Nets have a third restricted free agent and he is making a play for a better deal come July.
Ziaire Williams, taken at No. 10, well ahead of CamT at No. 27 and Day-Day at No. 29, is also eligible for an extension in July and as Brian Lewis reports Sunday, he’s been making his case of late.
After missing 12 games in December due to a knee injury, Williams has played well for Brooklyn since his return. In the nine games since, he’s averaging 12.1 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 40.1% from three and hitting multiple 3-pointers in seven of the nine.
The Stanford product’s deep shooting has always been an issue. The Grizzlies who took him in the 2021 lottery were willing to give him away in a salary dump last July because he never shot better than 31.4% —in his rookie season — in his three years on Beale Street. (The Nets used the partially guaranteed contract of Mamadi Diakite who they obtained from the Knicks in the Mikal Bridges deal and part of the Royce O’Neale trade exception to acquire Williams and the Mavs second rounder in 2030.)
As Lewis notes, the 23-year-old has excelled in the rest of his game, quoting Jordi Fernandez.
“We know his superpower is his length and defensive intensity, but we also need him to do that, to take the right shots. And he’s doing it. So, he’s doing a great job,” said the Nets head coach.
Williams himself has said the Nets brass is always pushing him to shoot.
“Yeah, man, shoot, they tell me constantly shoot, shoot, shoot,” said Williams. “So, I’ve got to be the one to believe in myself. And yes, it’s good out there. It feels good right now. And I’m just trying to just stay in this rhythm.”
Perhaps his best game in the nine was the Nets loss to the Lakers two days ago. Williams finished with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block in 25 minutes. Fernandez thinks that aside from his shooting improvement, Williams has also shown his seriousness.
“He’s done a great job in the gym, and he’s put his work in, and that’s why he has the confidence. And that’s pretty simple,” Fernandez said. “And you see it, he was out for a little bit, and he worked a lot. It’s a lot of reps. And then coming into the game and being confident.
It’s hard to tell who among the current Nets will be back in 2025-26. The Nets have an advantage with their three restricted free agents, though. They can set the price. So few teams will have salary cap space while the Nets could have as much as $70 million available. So even if another team tenders Thomas, Sharpe or Williams an offer, the Nets will be able to match it … if they wish.
- Ziaire Williams showing promise as Nets continues tank campaign – Brian Lewis – New York Post