DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons traded Jerome Williams and
Eric Montross to the Toronto Raptors for Corliss Williamson, Tyrone
Corbin, Kornel David and a future first-round pick.
|  | | Corliss Williamson will play for his third team in less than a year. |
The key players in the trade, Williams and Williamson, will both
be free agents after this season. Corbin and David will also be
free agents.
The deal was completed just before the 6 p.m. Thursday NBA
trading deadline.
Williams was asked Wednesday if he realized that the game he was
about to play against the New York Knicks could be his last as a
Piston.
"I hope not, but you never know," Williams said before Detroit
beat New York 90-85. "I'll play like I normally play, all-out."
It was the second trade of the day for the Raptors, who also
acquired point guard Chris Childs from the New York Knicks for Mark
Jackson and Muggsy Bogues.
The Raptors had been trying to find a taker for Williamson, who
has been a disappointment since arriving from Sacramento in a trade
for Doug Christie.
He is averaging only 9.3 points, his lowest since his rookie
season. The 6-foot-7, 245-pounder has averaged 11.7 points and 4.1
rebounds since Sacramento made him the 13th pick of the 1995 draft,
one season after he led Arkansas to the national championship.
The Pistons have a place for Williamson at small forward, either
in place of Michael Curry in the starting lineup or as a scoring
option off the bench.
"I think Corliss is a really good pickup for us," Detroit's
Jerry Stackhouse said. "He gives us some of the same things Jerome
did, but maybe with a little bit more offense. And three of those
guys we picked up can score."
Detroit director of player personnel Brendan Suhr said the deal
will make the Pistons the "biggest player in the free-agent market
this summer."
"We went from $11.7 million under the cap when the season began
to now having $15.7 million to spend on free agents," Suhr said.
By adding Williams, the Raptors are getting another rebounder to
add to a front line that already includes starters Antonio Davis
and Charles Oakley and backup Keon Clark.
Toronto rookie Morris Peterson, whose improved play made
Williamson expendable, will welcome Williams' energy and
enthusiasm.
"I think he'll be a great addition to our team," said Toronto
rookie Morris Peterson. "He's a really, really good player, who
works hard."
Williams averaged 7.3 points and 8.4 rebounds in 33 games this
season for the Pistons. The 6-foot-9, 206-pound forward has
averaged 6.3 points and 6.7 rebounds for Detroit since it made him
the 26th pick of the 1996 draft.
The former Georgetown standout enjoyed his best season in
1999-2000 when he scored 8.4 points and grabbed 9.6 rebounds a
game. Williams notched his career-high of 26 points against the
Raptors in 1999.
Williamson scored at least 10 points a game for four straight
seasons before being traded by Sacramento. He scored a career-high
40 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds against the Pistons
in 1998.
"He used to give us fits," Stackhouse said. "Hopefully, he
can regain that form and give other team fits."
The other three players in the deal have done enough to survive
in the NBA, but not much more than that.
Montross averaged 2.5 points and 3.4 rebounds over 42 games this
season in Detroit.
David added 2.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in just 17 games with
Toronto. Corbin played in 15 games and averaged 1.5 points and 1.3
rebounds.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
|
|
ALSO SEE
Trade breakdown: Williamson to Pistons
Back in the Big Apple: Jackson heads back to Knicks
Trade breakdown: Jackson to Knicks
Jordan, Wizards send Howard to Mavericks
Trade breakdown: Howard to Mavs
Mutombo goes to Sixers for Ratliff, Kukoc, two others
Trade breakdown: Mutombo to Philly
Dr. Jack: Philly wins in Mutombo deal
May: Philly makes a really bold move
Your thoughts on the Mutombo trade
|
