Phil Jackson explains why the Knicks signed Derrick Williams

By foxsports
Published

Even among those who praised the Knicks' offseason for the team's intelligence in not overpaying for overrated talent, the contract the organization gave Derrick Williams raised some eyebrows. 

Williams signed a two-year, $10 million deal (with a second-year player option of $5 million) with New York back in July after coming off a few rough seasons with the Timberwolves and Kings.

Not, though, as part of an ESPN series of interviews with Phil Jackson, the Knicks president explains his thought process in signing for the former No. 2-overall pick:

Jackson had more to say about Williams. You can click here to read it.

The 24-year-old can jump and is certainly an athlete, but has proven to be a low-IQ player during his early NBA seasons. It's not just because he almost never passes the ball or because he makes poor decisions on the offensive end. He's struggled to learn defensive concepts, too.

Maybe Jackson believes a regime he leads and one Derek Fisher controls can mend a former top talent into a legitimate pro contributor. Even so, though, that doesn't explain giving Williams a second-year player option. You'd have to imagine, considering the seasons he's had in the league, a one-year deal would've been able to land him. And if you lose him because you wouldn't give a second season, that shouldn't be such a big deal considering the caliber of player we're talking about.

(h/t ESPN)