As he stated after the trade deadline, Deron Williams hasn't wavered on his stance to test free agency after this season rather than opting into the final year of his current contract. That doesn't preclude a return to the Nets, but Williams figures to explore all of his options before making a decision. The point guard talked to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports about his impending free agency, Dwight Howard, and his role in the Nets' decision-making. Here are the highlights:
- Williams pointed out that teams don't get called "unloyal" for trading players like free agents do for leaving teams: "If [players] leave, we are not loyal, we are ungrateful. People say stuff to me on Twitter. They already think I’m gone. They are out there bashing me, saying to me I’m a traitor…. I didn’t ask to be here. I got traded. I didn’t come here being a free agent. This is the first time that I’m a free agent in my career."
- Williams "probably" would've re-signed with the Nets if the team had managed to acquire Howard at the trade deadline: "Oh yeah, it definitely would have changed things. I’ve already made it known that if he would have come I probably would have stayed."
- A winning situation will be Williams' first priority in free agency: "At the end of the day, I'm not getting any younger. I'll be 28 when I sign this next deal. I have to look for the best situation for me."
- Nets GM Billy King thinks that having a hand in his team's decision-making process will be another draw for Williams. The point guard has worked with King and the Nets' front office on personnel decisions since December, according to King: "In training camp he was in my office after practice every day just sitting there. He calls himself, 'the assistant GM.'"
- The Mavericks have long been cited as a potential destination for Williams in free agency, a fact he acknowledges: "They’d definitely love for me to play [in Dallas]. I know that. I’ve known that my whole career. The fans on Twitter, a lot of Dallas fans on Twitter, tell me to come back home. We’ll see."
Actually, a return to New Jersey next year is precluded for Williams and the entire Nets team.
Hah, good point.
Short of winning the Lottery (Anthony Davis) and also having Houston’s mid-first-round pick – assuming they do make the playoffs – I don’t think there’s anything the Nets could do in the offseason that would convince DWill to resign. Back to square one again…
DWill is right. A team will drop a player like a hot potato if he doesn’t produce to their satisfaction and nothing is made of it, so why can’t a player leave a team once he’s for-filled his contract. The player is a free agent. No loyaltty from the team, no loyalty from the player. Even Steven.
I loved how the Jazz traded Dwill before he got a chance to put the Jazz in a choke hold like Carmelo Anthony or Lebron. Lebron made Cleveland believe he would come back, Carmelo made Denver trade him and demanded it even though Denver was winning. Utah came out way ahead and Cleveland would have had a true lottery with all the picks they would have gotten out of Lebron if they would have traded him. Utah wanted Dwill back but he wouldn’t consider a contract extension so that told the Jazz his position, I’m telling you may have been the sweetest NBA deal in last 10 years, Jazz got Favors, and there second pick which in return the got Enes Kanter, and Devin Harris who struggled but is really playing well. Not as good as Dwill but the Jazz will contend again they are looking even though they are way young. Nice move Jazz