Williams' stats could land him a starting job

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Considering the fact that coach Doug Collins was more or less making hockey-style line changes for large swaths of the season, its no surprise the Sixers finished fourth in the NBA in bench scoring during the regular season and that a member of the team's "Night Shift" led the team in points per game.

But their super sixth man may now be on his way out of town.

Sixers president Ron Thorn said Saturday that he expects guard Louis Williams to exercise the early termination clause in his contract and test free agency this summer. If so, the Sixers could stand to lose Williams and his team-high 14.9 points per game.

Williams, who averaged 26.3 minutes per game last season, may be looking for a gig for as a starter, rather than as the change of pace, instant offense option off the bench he's provided the Sixers throughout his seven seasons with the team. And for as much criticism as Lou faced when his numbers and efficiency saw a dramatic decline in the playoffs, Lou's regular season numbers might just be enough to convince a team to add him to their starting five next year.

Consider that the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Williams finished 14th in the league in points scored per 48 minutes last season with a (hypothetical) average of 27.3 points per game. As you might imagine, that ranking puts Lou in some pretty impressive company -- he sits directly below Paul Pierce and above Al Jefferson. Consider also that Lou averaged the fewest minutes of any player in top 30 in points per 48 and was the only one in the top 20 who didn't start for his team.

The natural inclination for a team who needs a scorer and has some extra cap room might be to think the following: If Williams is keeping such elite company in the above statistic, wouldn't it make sense to sign him, start him, and let that theoretical production become actual production thanks to an increase in minutes played?

It's a tempting argument, and one that could very well garner Williams more money and minutes than he should otherwise command.

Though Lou's scoring totals would surely rise with an increase in minutes played, that's not to say he'd actually produce the way his points per 48 indicate. Sure, he's quick, but he's also undersized, not to mention a below-average defender. In other words, a move from the bench to the starting rotation may not be as promising as it seems for Lou or the club who signs him.

Really, the role Williams has occupied for the Sixers is his absolute best role in the NBA. Lou is allowed to work his magic in spurts to spark the offense at the expense of a few (or more points) at the opposite end. Ultimately, the concern facing any team considering Williams as a starter would be that the increased exposure would actually expose Williams for both the player he is and the player he is not.

Coming off the bench doesn't just highlight Lou's greatest strengths, it also helps to mask some of his understandable and, for some fans, frustrating weaknesses at both ends of the floor.

Still, this is the NBA and Williams has his points per 48 minutes carrot to dangle in front of suitors desperate to improve their roster. Both Williams and his next team would be smart to keep him in his current role, but, should he not re-sign with the Sixers, don't be surprised to see Lou giving it a go as a starter next season.

E-mail Nick Menta at nmenta@comcastsportsnet.com

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