Atlanta Re-signs Williams For Five Years, Wishes It Had a Center For Next Season

Marvin Williams will be an Atlanta Hawk this season, and for years to come if the team chooses to keep him.

According to Ric Bucher of ESPN.com, Atlanta re-signed Williams Wednesday to a five-year extension worth around $40 million.

Williams is a four-year pro selected No. 2 overall by the Hawks in the 2005 NBA Draft. Many fans remember that draft as the one where Atlanta passed on Deron Williams and Chris Paul.

Williams struggled his first few years in the NBA, but he began to show signs of life last season. He developed a nice touch on his mid-long range jump shot and fought aggressively defensively.

Williams averaged 12.5 PPG over his four year NBA career. He improved last season by averaging 13.9 PPG. He also improved as a rebounder. His career average is 5.5 RPG, but Williams improved that last season to 6.3 RPG.

The re-signing of Williams gives Atlanta assurance to have more depth on their roster overall. I would assume that Williams would be a starter, with Maurice Evans coming off the bench.

With the acquisitions of Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague, it would appear that Atlanta will not try and re-sign Flip Murray. I could be wrong, but this is just a hunch coming from me, because it would be tough for that many guards to get paid that much money and all get playing time.

If Atlanta makes any more moves at all, I would suggest the Hawks go out and get a bigger forward or another center to help out in the post with Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia.

No matter what, the addition of Marvin Williams makes the upcoming season for the Hawks brighter.

Credit: Ric Bucher of ESPN.com