MINNEAPOLIS – About six weeks ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves told Derrick Williams he had a choice to make.
He could throw himself into extra work with assistant Shawn Respert to try to increase his learning curve and establish himself in the NBA. Or he could keep doing what he was doing and join a long list of No. 2 overall draft picks who never panned out in this league.
Williams had no interest in having his name mentioned along with the many No. 2 picks who have been disappointments, including Darko Milicic, Hasheem Thabeet and Stromile Swift.
So he went to work, staying long after practice to watch film and work on his game. The Wolves say they need him to show more focus and consistency to prove he belongs in Minnesota.
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