TRADING WILLIAMSON WORKED OUT IN THE END: When Corliss Williamson watched as his minutes diminished and his role with Raptors became uncertain, the forward known as Big Nasty asked for a trade.

The Raptors obliged and traded Williamson to the Detroit Pistons in a package that featured Jerome Williams and Eric Montross going to Toronto midway through last season.

Williamson made an impression with the Pistons, who signed the 6-foot-7 to a free-agent deal last summer.

In his first full season in Detroit, Williamson won the NBA's Sixth Man Award.