A Royal Pain
Fansided

Who is Troy Williams and how can he help the Sacramento Kings?

By Jonathan Roberts

ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 30: Troy Williams #19 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on October 30, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 30: Troy Williams #19 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on October 30, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

After being waived the New Orleans Pelicans in mid-October, Troy Williams was subsequently scooped up the Sacramento Kings on a two-way contract. What can he do for the team?

On Wednesday Oct. 17, New Orleans Pelicans forward Troy Williams was waived by the team and three days later found himself on a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings, but who is he?

Williams is a 6’-7” forward from Indiana University and has played parts of three seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He’s appeared in 53 career games and has averaged 17.2 minutes per game, 6.3 points and 2.6 rebounds on .455/.302/.661 shooting.

His best stint with any team was a six game run with the Houston Rockets (three starts) in 2016-17 where he played 23.2 minutes and 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists on .500/.381/.857 shooting. He hasn’t played at that level since, but could still be a productive piece for the Sacramento Kings and arguably should be starting over Justin Jackson at this point.

More from Kings News

Over two games with Sacramento, Williams is averaging 23 minutes, 7.5 points, three rebounds and a block on 60 percent shooting from the floor (50 percent from three). It’s obviously a small sample size, but he played pretty well for Sacramento against Orlando and currently has a solid 94.2 defensive rating with Sacramento.

Playing against the Orlando Magic, Williams got his first extended run with the team and turned in an impressive performance, playing 34 minutes, scoring 12 points (5-9 FGs, 2-5 3PT) and adding in five rebounds and an assist in a Kings win.

It’s also worth noting that Sacramento hasn’t lost since they brought him on the team, so clearly the Kings are going 74-0 over the rest of the season, so long as he remains with the team.

On a serious note, if Williams can string together a few solid performances akin to what he did against Orlando, he could find himself starting in the interim until Bogdan Bogdanovic returns from surgery. He’s proven he can be a solid starter in the past and while it’s a small sample size (only six games), those six games might be better than any other option the Kings have at small forward right now.

This isn’t to say Williams is going to develop into an All-Star or anything, but it doesn’t hurt to bring in a young player on a two-way contract to see what he can do. It’s a low-risk, high-reward for the organization and you know Williams is going to give it his all to keep his hopes sticking in the league alive and within reach.

If the Sacramento Kings can develop Williams into a reliable reserve who can start in a pinch and provide ok-defense and some scoring off the bench that’s a big win for a front office that’s on a bit of a roll over the last few months.

Next. Sacramento Kings: A tale of two rookies. dark

Will that be the case? Hard to tell but if his play against the Magic is any indication this could be a good, under the radar signing for Sacramento.

Home/Kings News