Derrick Williams (right) has spent a lot of time on the bench this season. Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Former Arizona Wildcat All-American Derrick Williams, who was the second pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, is on the verge of getting a change of scenery after often being the subject of trade rumors.
Williams, who hasn’t found consistent traction in his two-plus seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, has seen diminishing minutes this season.
He averaged 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds last season on an injury-plagued team, but has been squeezed down to 14.7 minutes per game this year.
And now Williams, who is averaging 4.9 points and 2.4 rebounds this season, is being shipped to the Sacramento Kings, pending the final touches on the deal.
Here is a story on the pending trade from our Gannett partner, USA Today:
The Minnesota Timberwolves have an agreement in principle on a trade that would send third-year forward Derrick Williams to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for sixth-year small forward Luc Mbah a Moute, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been finalized. If it is to be completed, that will likely take place on Tuesday. Mbah a Moute missed most of the exhibition season with right knee tendinitis, and concerns relating to that injury are still being considered by the Timberwolves.
While Williams had been mostly ineffective in his early NBA years in Minnesota, the Kings — who are 4-9 and were widely known to be seeking ways to improve their roster — are hopeful that he can have the sort of impact that led to him being drafted second overall out of the University of Arizona in 2011.
As for the Timberwolves (8-7), they are badly in need of a capable defensive presence on the perimeter and Mbah a Moute could help to that end. Williams is averaging just 14.7 minutes, 4.9 points (35.2% shooting overall), and 2.4 rebounds per game thus far this season, while Mbah a Moute has averaged 21.8 minutes, 4.4 points, and three rebounds per game.
ESPN first reported the trade talks.