You be the Blazers GM: Elliot Williams

Position:

G

Height/Weight:

6-5/183

NBA experience:

One season

2011-12 salary:

$1,348,800

Contract status:

Entering the third season of his rookie contract, Williams is set to make $1,442,880 in 2012-13.

2011-12 regular season:

While the 2010-11 season was lost for

rookie

due to double knee surgery, it was not a lost opportunity for the shooting guard out of Memphis.

Williams used the time to educate himself on the NBA.

"That was the first time, last year, that I had to sit out a full season,"

. "And I was using that time to study the game and become a better player."

After all the studying, rehabbing and fine tuning, Williams came into the 2011-12 season ready to make his mark. And it didn't take long for him to

as he pushed for a spot in the rotation during the first few days of training camp.

But playing time was limited for Williams through the first month and a half of the season. He recorded more DNPs than games played, but showed enough promise, energy and intrigue during his brief stints on the court to eventually earn more time.

As the Blazers season began to fade into oblivion,

one of the lone bright spots. He scored 50 points in his last 64 minutes of playing time through his last seven games of the season (Feb. 18 to March 7), including a career-high 17 points (7-of-10) in 18 minutes on Feb. 21 against San Antonio.

But a shoulder injury in practice once again cut his season short. He underwent successful surgery to repair his left dislocated shoulder capsule on March 30, and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Heading into the offseason, Williams said he will work on getting healthy, hit the weight room and "add a couple of pounds" and work on his shot and ball handling. Williams said he will "most definitely" be in Las Vegas for summer league, but whether he will be able to play or not is still to be determined.

Despite only playing in 24 games, the 22-year-old was confident with how he played in his limited time this season.

"I think I played, with the time I was given, pretty well," he said in his exit interview with the media. "One of the things I wanted to focus on was coming in with a lot of defensive energy. That's one thing that I know I can do no matter what, whether I'm shooting well or not.

"Offensively I felt I made some improvements; I got comfortable out there the more I played."

Despite an unsettling injury history and only a quarter of an NBA season under his belt,

Williams brings.

"We have a big belief in Elliot," Blazers acting general manager Chad Buchanan said after the season. "I think Elliot has a chance, once he gets healthy, to be a spark for us."

You decide:

Can Williams stay healthy and be a significant contributor next season? Have you seen enough from him to know what he's capable of? Cast your vote and post your comments on why

should stay or go.

Last year's vote:

.

• You be the Blazers GM, 2011-12
• Vote: 'Stay' or 'Go'
• |
• Experts' take
• |
• Fans' take

The OregonianElliot Williams