Elliot Williams signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz out of the D-League and here is a scouting report on his game:

Situation: After the Jazz recently signed Elijah Millsap to a 10-day deal, they added Elliot Williams as another option on the wing. His spot was created when the Jazz waived Patrick Christopher, who dislocated his kneecap in his first NBA start. Williams was a first round pick back in 2010 and showed potential in Portland, but struggled with injuries early in his career. He played 67 games with the Philadelphia 76ers last season and was the second overall pick in the D-League this year. He was ranked as the third best prospect in the league before earning a Call-Up. 

Size/Athleticism: Physically, Williams is similar to Golden State’s Justin Holiday. Williams stands 6-foot-5 with a lengthy wingspan that gives him a good frame in the backcourt. He’s a quality athlete that utilizes his burst and bounce in transition. In the halfcourt, Williams uses a quick first step to beat defenders off the bounce. 

Ballhandling: Williams is an excellent ball handler that primarily plays off the ball, but has also ran the point in spurts for Santa Cruz. The southpaw likes to use an in-and-out move with his dominant hand to set up his dribble-drive game. He’s a smooth ballhandler that can play some point guard if needed.

Shooting: In 91 NBA games, Williams shot just 29.6% from three-point range, but has shown improvements in the D-League. This season, he’s shooting 38.6% from deep and averaging 1.7 made three-point field goals per contest. He sets up screens well and keeps opponents honest by occasionally backcutting when defenders overplay a screen. When he sets his feet, Williams has looked like a consistent shooter. It will be interesting to see if he can continue the success in Utah.

Penetration: Williams uses a quick first step to attack the rim and is a crafty finisher around the basket. He can go up against a defender and finish with contact or use his length for a reverse layup. Williams is shooting 63.1% from within 5 feet, which is above the D-League average. 

Passing: This is perhaps the most underrated part of Williams’ game. He averaged 7.7 assists per game in Santa Cruz, which ranks sixth in the D-League. While Williams doesn’t always bring the ball up the floor, the offense can run through him since he finds the open teammate when he attacks. He can regularly hit the rolling big man in the pick-and-roll or kick out to the strongside corner.

Defense: Williams is a solid defender that can stop penetration and contest jump shots. Off the ball, he has shown some lapses and loses his man on occasions, but uses his instincts to jump passing lanes when dialed in. At the NBA level, he should be an average defender that guards opposing shooting guards. 

Rebounding: Although Williams is usually waiting for an outlet pass to start the fastbreak, he’s a good rebounder that chips in 4.7 boards per game at Santa Cruz. He shows good instincts when crashing the glass. 

Versatility: Williams should be penciled in as a shooting guard at the NBA level, although he shows the ball skills and creativity to spend some time running the point. With Trey Burke out with strep throat, there’s a possibility Williams could see some action at point guard, but will primarily play off the ball. Defensively, Williams would be most effective guarding opposing two guards.

Final Analysis: After recently signing the defensive-minded Millsap, Utah added a complimentary offensive option with Williams. As a former first round pick that’s still just 25 years old, Williams is a good prospect to take a chance on. He averaged 21.3 points per game for Santa Cruz and is effective in transition. In the halfcourt, Williams is a savvy ball handler that can create for others. He should compete with Millsap for minutes off the bench.