New York Knicks Bold Predictions For 2015-16 Regular Season

Derrick Williams Wins Most Improved Player Of The Year

Oct 17, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Knicks forward Derrick Williams (23) smiles after a play during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Knicks 97-93. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick Williams has been labeled a bust thus far in his career. After being selected second overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2011, Williams struggled to live up to the expectations. With Kevin Love already entrenched at power forward, he didn’t really have a spot with the Timberwolves. He is the definition of a tweener, and the Timberwolves eventually gave up and sent him to the Sacramento Kings.

Thing didn’t go much better with the Kings, as Williams still struggled to find a defined role. He did get it together at the end of the season, averaging 14.8 points per game the last month of the season. But he was still never able to realize his potential, so he became a free agent and the Knicks scooped him up.

A lot of people say that the Knicks overpaid for his services, but he is a player that they pinpointed as wanting in free agency and pounced when he became available. While it is hard to imagine with all the dysfunction that normally surrounds the Knicks, they are actually a more stable franchise than the Timberwolves or Kings. If the preseason holds any value, it also looks like he has found a stable role with the Knicks.

Throughout the preseason, Williams was the Knicks to-go scorer with the second unit and he looked comfortable. Williams actually led the Knicks in scoring during the preseason, averaging a solid 16.2 points per game. If he is able to carry that into the regular season, he will easily be worth the price that the Knicks paid for him.

While Williams may never be able to fully shake that bust label and live up to the expectations of being the No.2 overall pick, he looks to have found some comfortability with the Knicks off their bench. He will keep things together during the regular season, and get recognized as the NBA’s Most Improved Player Of The Year Award because of it.

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