Was Letting Ziaire Williams Go a Mistake for the Nets?

The Brooklyn Nets made several difficult roster decisions this offseason as they continued building around their young core, and letting Ziaire Williams walk is one that looks increasingly interesting in hindsight. At the time, I understood the decision, especially with so many young players competing for roster spots. However, Williams' early success with the Los Angeles Lakers has me wondering whether Brooklyn would have been better off finding a way to keep him around.

Williams spent two seasons with the Nets after arriving from the Memphis Grizzlies, showing flashes of the athleticism, hustle, and defensive versatility that made him an intriguing player. His shooting was inconsistent during his time in Brooklyn, but he showed enough offensively to suggest there was still room for improvement.

The Nets ultimately decided to move in a different direction, giving younger players more opportunities to develop. With the roster already crowded, I didn't see an obvious candidate to cut ahead of Williams, either. The front office had to make some tough decisions, and there was a reasonable argument for prioritizing players with more developmental upside.

Still, I liked what Williams brought to the court, and his production in Los Angeles is making that decision worth revisiting.

Through nine games with the Lakers, Williams is averaging 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 24.6 minutes per game. More importantly, he's shooting 54.5% from the field and an impressive 45.2% from three-point range.

Those numbers represent a significant improvement from his final season in Brooklyn. In 56 games with the Nets last year, Williams averaged 10.2 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc.

His field goal percentage has increased by 12 percentage points, while his three-point percentage is up nearly 11 percentage points. That's a pretty noticeable difference, particularly for someone who was never quite able to establish himself as a consistent outside shooter in Brooklyn.

Of course, nine games are still a relatively small sample, and it's too early to assume these shooting numbers will hold throughout the season. However, Williams is taking advantage of his opportunities, and his new situation certainly seems to be helping.

Playing alongside Luka Dončić gives Williams something he didn't always have in Brooklyn: a superstar playmaker who can consistently create quality looks for his teammates. Dončić draws defensive attention, finds open shooters, and makes life easier for players who can move without the ball. Williams' athleticism and improved shooting make him an interesting fit alongside someone with that kind of offensive ability.

That doesn't automatically mean the Lakers have found a steal. Williams still has to prove he can maintain this level of efficiency, and his relatively slight frame can make it difficult for him to handle certain defensive assignments. A strong start offensively doesn't erase every weakness in his game.

Still, there's something to be said for a player finding a better situation and making the most of it.

The other reason Williams' departure stands out is the Nets' defensive situation.

Brooklyn also traded Nic Claxton this offseason, losing a major source of rim protection and rebounding in the process. Williams wasn't going to replace Claxton's impact inside, but he offered athleticism and versatility on the perimeter. Losing both players leaves Brooklyn with defensive contributions to replace, and the roster doesn't have an obvious answer for every hole.

That doesn't mean keeping Williams would have changed everything. Brooklyn still needs better guard play, a reliable ball-handler who can create advantages, and more size and rim protection. Those are significant concerns, and the front office had to weigh Williams' value against the opportunities available to its younger players.

I can understand why the Nets moved on, but I also think Williams could have been worth keeping on a relatively inexpensive contract. He didn't need to become a star to justify a roster spot. If he could provide energy, defend multiple positions, and knock down open three-pointers, he would have offered something useful to the rotation.

The Lakers are getting encouraging production from him early in the season, and Brooklyn could certainly use some of the things he's bringing to the table.

Ultimately, it's still too early to call Williams' departure a mistake. His shooting numbers will need to hold up over a much longer stretch, and the Nets had legitimate reasons for wanting to give their younger players more opportunities. However, watching him take advantage of a better offensive situation in Los Angeles makes it difficult not to wonder what could have happened if Brooklyn had kept him around.

I liked Williams' game during his time with the Nets, and I would have been happy to see him get another opportunity. With Brooklyn already dealing with defensive questions, losing another athletic player who could contribute on that end is worth noting. If Williams continues playing at this level, the Nets might look back on this decision a little differently.