Season Prediction
Last season, Williams averaged 22.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in 32 minutes per game. With additional shooting guards, and the surplus of guards in general on the roster, Williams is bound to take a slight cut to his numbers. I’ll guess and say 18 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in 28 minutes.
There will be games where Lou is the only one who shows up, and other games where he is unresponsive. Its just how his career goes. However, when he’s on, he’s on, and he can erupt for major scoring outbursts, like he did against the Golden State Warriors on January 10, where he put up 50 points.
In the end, Williams is a very valuable piece for our team. Later in the season, it wouldn’t surprise me if he were traded to a contending team who is just one piece away from winning. If the Clippers gave him up for an expiring contract and a pick, it would give LAC even more money to play with in the 2019 free agency. If not, the team could keep him around as the best Sixth Man in the NBA.
Williams still has a good shot to win his third Sixth Man of the Year Award this coming season. If he does win, he would tie Jamal Crawford (who won two of his Sixth Man awards with LAC) for most wins of that award in NBA history.
Regardless of what happens, it will be interesting to see what Williams will accomplish this season.