Nets Decline F Ziaire Williams' $6M Team Option

After bringing in multiple new players in the front court, like Julius Randle and rookie Joshua Jefferson, the Brooklyn Nets declined their team option on fifth-year forward Ziaire Williams, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The deal would have been worth $6.25 million, and kept the Stanford product in Brooklyn for at least next season.

Williams averaged 10.2 points in 56 appearances, shooting at 43/34/85 splits.

After the pre-draft acquisition of Randle, Jefferson being drafted, and UCLA's Tyler Bilodeau joining the team, it seemed more likely that Williams' tenure in Brooklyn had come to an end, as various forwards have seemingly surpassed him in production and potential.

However, Williams will definitely be able to find a new home, as he played his best basketball of the season down the stretch of last year.

In Williams' 14 games played last March, he averaged 13.3 points per game, shooting the long-ball at a 48.8-percent mark, recording at least one 3-point make in all but two games.

In a rare late-season win for the Nets, Williams notched 23 points, knocking down five 3-pointers and all eight of his free throws against a pesky Detroit Pistons defense.

Going forward, Williams' ability to consistently knock down perimeter shots will determine his future in the league, as he has definitely displayed the ability to do.

Williams' 34.3-percent shooting from distance overall last season did mark a slight increase, but still ranks in the middle of the pack amongst NBA shooters.

With Williams' departure and the current standing within the roster, Randle and last year's leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. would form a solid 1-2 punch on the wing, with Danny Wolf and the incoming rookie big men, Jefferson and Bilodeau, getting solid playtime off the bench.

Both Bilodeau and Jefferson are versatile for their positions, as both can knock down the 3-point shot and move well for their size.

Bilodeau, however, was one of the top overall shooters in the class, coming off a season where he shot a scorching 46.8-percent from deep.

The 6-foot-8 forward led the Bruins in scoring with 17.6 points per game and finished second on the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg), helping UCLA get back to March Madness.

While not as athletic or defensively-focused as Williams, Bilodeau's shooting stroke and touch on the inside provides him with a higher offensive ceiling.

Jefferson, who was perhaps the most unique forward in this year's class, does a lot of his work on the perimeter, using good passing and footwork to impact winning.

Last season, Jefferson was a consensus All-American before injuring his foot in the first round of the Big Dance.

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