Shammond Williams has been waiting a long time for his close up. After signing with the Sonics as a free agent during the summer of 1999, Williams went into camp expected to be the top backup to All-Star guard Gary Payton. However, the job was usurped by journeyman Emanual Davis. When Davis was traded to the Lakers the next summer, it appeared again that Williams would become a key reserve, his position solidified by a phenomenal performance during the Summer League. However, again Davis stepped in, as the Sonics claimed him off waivers, and Williams spent most of last season with inconsistent playing time behind Davis, despite finishing top 10 in the NBA in three-point percentage.

Now, with Davis in Atlanta and Williams the recipient of a new three-year deal, there seemed to be nothing between Williams and playing time. However, he has been benched again -- not by Davis, but by a broken ring finger suffered last Thursday night against Sacramento. The next evening, despite the injury, Williams played with a heavily bandaged left hand in an open scrimmage held by the Sonics. Though his ability to go left was hampered, Williams shot well from outside.

Shammond sat out yesterday's game against Golden State, and today an MRI confirmed that the finger was broken. Williams will likely be lost to the Sonics for the first four weeks, extending well into the beginning of the regular season. Williams will have to be placed on the injured list. Despite that fact, the team today placed Anthony Johnson on waivers. Johnson had been battling Earl Watson for the right to backup Williams. In light of the injury, it had seemed likely that both would make the team, but apparently Wally Walker has decided to stick with his 13-man roster edict.

With Payton a Sonic, there will not be many minutes necessary to fill with a backup point, but barring a move, it would seem likely that Brent Barry -- who has had a fantastic pre-season and is handling the ball more and more -- would get the role. Watson may also play, but as a second round draft pick who has missed much of training camp with a heel injury, Watson would likely be overmatched for the time being.