There is little doubt the Sixers would want to keep the 6-foot-1 guard, since scoring was a problem most of last season, and losing the leading scorer certainly would hurt. Plus, Collins is a big fan of having scoring punch coming off his bench, an advantage for his team this past season.
"We'd like to sign him, if at all possible," Thorn said. "He wants to test the waters. To become an unrestricted free agent doesn't happen often, maybe once or twice in a career. He wants to see what's out there. He has said he wants to stay with us, but we'll have to wait and see what happens."
A league source said that interest in Williams throughout the league is "significant" and that a contract to land him could be "in the Thaddeus Young range." Before this past season, Young signed a five-year deal worth close to $43 million.
"It's impossible to gauge [how much a team would be willing to pay] because there are so many teams who have money, and Lou certainly is a good player," Thorn said. "The natural inclination is for teams who have money to spend some of it, of course. The last couple of years, there are a lot of teams that have gotten way under the salary cap, and I'm sure that Lou will get some interest from teams."
The Williams situation is just one of many facing the team. Starting center Spencer Hawes is an unrestricted free agent, and, as the league source said: "There are a lot of teams interested in him. Who wouldn't be? He's a big man who can do a lot of things and is only 24 years old."
Several sources have said Hawes could get $5 million to $7 million a season.
The team also needs to decide whether it will use the amnesty clause for Elton Brand, who is scheduled to make $18.16 million next season. The team would pay Brand that money, but it would come off its salary cap. Doing this seems to be a no-brainer, if the new ownership group is OK with writing that check. If it does go with amnesty for Brand, and can't sign Williams and/or Hawes, that would free up some money, perhaps allowing the team to go after a coveted free agent (maybe Orlando's Ryan Anderson, a restricted free agent).
The Sixers would like to keep Temple product Lavoy Allen, whose one-year rookie deal is up. Allen's play in the playoffs probably boosted his price range to about $2 million a season. The Sixers, already short on strong, big men, can ill afford to lose Allen.
Those decisions don't even include the draft on June 28. The Sixers will have picks at the 15th, 45th, and 54th spots. They have said they want a big, athletic type, but that may hinge on whether they believe that Williams is likely to return.
The Sixers can make contact with Williams on July 1, Thorn said.
"We certainly would like to know what's going to happen out there, but at the same time you've got to be cognizant of your salary cap in moving forward," the Sixers president said.
Contact Bob Cooney at cooneyb@phillynews.com.
