Former Memphis Tiger Shawne Williams leaves criminal court for basketball court

Former University of Memphis and NBA basketball player Shawne Williams was busy Monday trying to go from one court to another.

In the morning, Williams was in Criminal Court where drug charges were officially dismissed with his successful completion of diversion.

By late afternoon, he planned to be on a plane heading for Las Vegas to participate in a pro basketball training camp with more than 60 other NBA players who have been idled since July 1 by an owners lockout.

Overseas teams will be looking for players to sign if the lockout is not resolved in the coming weeks.

Williams, 25, now a free agent, said he eventually hopes to re-sign with the New York Knicks, but Asia may be in his immediate future if a Chinese team signs him after monitoring his workouts this week via Skype.

"I might sign with them," said Williams, a power forward who averaged 7.1 points last season. "But I'm planning on being under contract with the Knicks."

His attorney, Howard Manis, added, "There's mutual interest with the Knicks."

It's a happy turnaround for the 6-9 Williams, whose professional career sputtered with a series of drug-related episodes, both of his own doing and that of the people with whom he associated.