This is a real blow to Phoenix, which was so impressed with center Mark Williams last season that it gave him a new three-year, $38 million contract and planned to have him as its starting center.
Williams underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. While there is no timeline, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (maybe the most plugged-in Suns reporter) says to expect at least five months, which would mean a return around the All-Star break at the earliest.
In his first three seasons in Charlotte, Williams showed real promise but never played more than 44 games in a season due to a variety of injuries (foot, ankle, thumb, and back). Last season, that changed as he played 60 games for the Suns, averaging 11.7 points and eight rebounds a game, and was a solid defender in the paint. Now the Suns will be without him for more than half the season.
Look for second-year center Khaman Maluach to get a lot more run, he showed potential last season and then made his case at Summer League, averaging 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds a game (in four games). Also expect to see more of third-year big Oso Ighodaro, who was solid last season, playing in all 82 games and averaging 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a night.
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