Bobcats sign marksman Williams

Paul Silas, the coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, got what he wanted — a long-range shooter.

Charlotte signed shooting guard Reggie Williams to a two-year contract Thursday, filling one of its biggest needs. Financial terms weren't released.

The Bobcats finished 29th among 30 NBA teams in 3-point percentage last season at 32.7 percent. Williams should help. He was eighth in the league in 3-point shooting last season at 42.3 percent and averaged 9.2 points a game for the Golden State Warriors.

"Reggie brings outside shooting, and that's what we needed," Silas said. "When you're down and trying to get back in the game, it really helps you. And it brings the crowd into it."

At the team's media day earlier this week, Silas emphasized that he expects the Bobcats to push the ball up the court.

That's not a big surprise. The Bobcats are heavy on athleticism and light on big men.

What is a little surprising is that Silas said he expects to play point guards D.J. Augustin and rookie Kemba Walker together at certain points of games. Walker is 6-foot-1, and Augustin is a 6-0, so the Bobcats would be taking "small ball" to the extreme.

But Silas views the two as scorers he needs on the floor and as players who can push the tempo if they learn to play off each other.

"We are going to run," Silas said. "We're really going to run."

His players know that, too. That's why several said they haven't minded spending extra time working on their conditioning.

"Lets' face it, we're not a team that needs to get caught in up in a half-court game," Augustin said.

Silas said that the Bobcats have come to training camp with a terrific attitude, a tone set by their new veteran leader, Corey Maggette.

Not only is Maggette leading by example off the court, but he also is showing how things get done on the court. Silas said the shooting numbers charted every day by the coaching staff show that Maggette is making 80 percent — albeit uncontested — during shooting drills.

Maggette's mere presence, he said, has helped the camaraderie after the offseason trade of Stephen Jackson.

"The atmosphere is much better than it was with guys who like each other and playing hard and coming together," Silas said. "You just can't have one guy on the other side and everybody else trying to get together. It just doesn't work, especially if that guy is someone who plays."

Silas said he knows many are counting out the Bobcats, but he isn't.

He said that although it might take his young team time to learn his system, he expects it to take off in February or March.

"I think we'll be right there at the end," Silas said. "But it's not going to be easy from the start. But people talk about it being a year from now, (but) I think it's going to be this year."

Silas also said he thinks that the time frame for success can be pushed up if the team can get rookie lottery pick Bismack Biyombo back on the floor.

Biyombo has been working on the side in individual drills but can't participate in team drills until his contract situation is resolved with his former Spanish team, Fuenlabrada. Negotiations to free Biyombo from the contract remain at an impasse and might not be settled until after Biyombo's civil suit is heard Dec. 19 in Spain.

Silas said Biyombo is chomping at the bit.

During a recent conditioning drill, Silas said Biyombo dunked the ball 73 consecutive times before Silas walked over and told him to stop. He said normally players get to 30 or 35 before their legs start to give out and they miss.

"He could have gotten to 100," Silas said with a laugh.

Silas said not being out playing with teammates is ripping Biyombo apart.

"He wants it so badly," Silas said. "This is what he's really about — playing and rebounding and going hard all of the time....

"It's been hard for him and us. I want to see him out here and see what he can really do and be able to teach him and get his shot right. Because I think he can be a major part of this ball club and us winning. If we don't have him. we're not going to be as good of a team."