Sacramento Kings

Phil Jackson explains why the Knicks signed Derrick Williams

Published Aug. 24, 2015 2:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Even among those who praised the Knicks' offseason for the team's intelligence in not overpaying for overrated talent, the contract the organization gave Derrick Williams raised some eyebrows.

Williams signed a two-year, $10 million deal (with a second-year player option of $5 million) with New York back in July after coming off a few rough seasons with the Timberwolves and Kings.

Not, though, as part of an ESPN series of interviews with Phil Jackson, the Knicks president explains his thought process in signing for the former No. 2-overall pick:

Jackson had more to say about Williams. You can click here to read it.

The 24-year-old can jump and is certainly an athlete, but has proven to be a low-IQ player during his early NBA seasons. It's not just because he almost never passes the ball or because he makes poor decisions on the offensive end. He's struggled to learn defensive concepts, too.

Maybe Jackson believes a regime he leads and one Derek Fisher controls can mend a former top talent into a legitimate pro contributor. Even so, though, that doesn't explain giving Williams a second-year player option. You'd have to imagine, considering the seasons he's had in the league, a one-year deal would've been able to land him. And if you lose him because you wouldn't give a second season, that shouldn't be such a big deal considering the caliber of player we're talking about.

(h/t ESPN)

I mean, there's no doubt that Derrick has the talent, size and strength to be a more-than-capable NBA player. However, his development has been hindered by several factors. From the start of his pro career, being the second overall draft pick has been like an albatross around his neck, something that he, and lots of other people, felt a lot of pressure to live up to. I told him that right now he's an NBA player and it no longer makes any difference where he was drafted. He just has to learn how to play the game the right way. That means developing a defensive mindset, developing an intermediate game and improving his long-range shooting.