Derrick Williams Eager To Begin With T-Wolves

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Derrick Williams says he was ready to ship off to Spain or Italy to begin his pro career shortly before a tentative labor agreement was reached between owners and players.

The No. 2 overall draft pick worked out in Minnesota on Thursday and says he is relieved that the NBA season will begin shortly. Williams says he was concerned that he made the wrong decision to leave Arizona after his sophomore season when the owners locked out the players for more than five months.

He was all set to ship off overseas to play when the sides finally reached an agreement.

Williams worked out with some of his new Timberwolves teammates Thursday and says he can't wait to begin training camp on Friday with new coach Rick Adelman.

The team -- or at least most of the team -- gathered for a little pickup game of basketball. Included in that group was Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Williams, Anthony Randolph and of course, Ricky Rubio.

"It feels great just to get up and down, play against the guys. It's been a long vacation," Randolph said. "I think guys are in pretty good shape. Everybody was getting up and down pretty good, the guys look good, Kevin looks great."

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