In just over a year in the NBA, Derrick Williams has gone from being the No. 2 overall pick to trade bait.
But the Minnesota Timberwolves forward says he is taking the rumors in stride. Williams practiced in Minneapolis on Friday in preparation to play with the Wolves' summer league team in Las Vegas next week.
His name was mentioned in possible deals while the Wolves were pursuing Lakers forward Pau Gasol. Now that the Wolves have turned their attention to Portland's Nicolas Batum, Williams has been taken off the table.
He has shed 15 pounds this summer in hopes of becoming quick enough to play small forward. He says ''if I had played a little bit better, I wouldn't be in those talks.''
Meanwhile, the Wolves have traded center Brad Miller and two second-round picks to New Orleans and waived swingman Martell Webster as they prepare to file a formal offer to Portland restricted free agent Nicolas Batum.
The Wolves made the moves on Friday, one day after using the amnesty clause on center Darko Milicic. The Wolves received a conditional second-round pick from the Hornets for Miller, who has said he will retire.
Timberwolves president David Kahn said the Wolves will submit the offer sheet, which is for four years and more than $45 million, to the league on Sunday night when Webster clears waivers. The Blazers will have three days to match and Portland GM Neil Olshey has been adamant that they will do just that
