Deron Williams Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Deron Williams Opts Out Of Mavericks Deal

June 22nd, 2016 at 9:19am CST by Luke Adams

Deron Williams is the latest Maverick to inform the team of his decision to opt out, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein (Twitter link). Chandler Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki have also told the Mavs that they’re turning down their respective player options to sign new contracts.

We heard back in April that Williams intended to opt out of his contract this summer in order to seek a multiyear deal. At that time, reports indicated that the team and player had mutual interest in working out a new agreement that would allow Williams to return to Dallas. Once July 1st arrives, however, other teams will have the opportunity to make their own pitches to the veteran point guard.

Williams, who turns 32 on Sunday, appeared in 65 regular-season contests for the Mavericks in 2015/16, averaging 14.1 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 32.4 minutes per game. While those numbers aren’t close to the ones Williams put up during his heyday in Utah, Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson pointed to what he saw as a renewed sense of enthusiasm in the point guard’s play this past season.

Williams’ player option for 2016/17 would have paid him $5,621,026, but with the cap on the rise, there’s a very good chance he’ll be able to surpass that salary on the open market, and he should be able to lock in a deal for more than one year as well.

Southwest Notes: Morey, Demps, Mavericks, Howard

May 1st, 2016 at 6:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Rockets coaching candidates had better be prepared to discuss defense and team chemistry in their job interviews, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. GM Daryl Morey offered few clues beyond that in a press conference this week as the team decides whether to replace interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Owner Leslie Alexander is a strong believer in an up-tempo attack with a heavy emphasis on 3-pointers, but Morey said running that system won’t be a prerequisite for the next coach. The Rockets are known as pioneers of analytics in the NBA, but none of Morey’s coaches has been a strong believer in numbers. Feigen notes that every coach Alexander has hired came to Houston with previous head coaching experience but adds that the organization targeted several assistants before hiring Kevin McHale and is expected to do so again. The writer mentions ex-head coaches Jeff Van Gundy, Lionel Hollins and Jeff Hornacek as possibilities, along with Adrian Griffin, Ettore Messina, Jay Larranaga and Jim Boylen.

There’s more out of the Southwest Division:

Pelicans GM Dell Demps and his staff are preparing for the draft and free agency, even though the team hasn’t confirmed that Demps will keep his job, tweets Scott Kushner of The Advocate.
The Mavericks can offer one max contract to free agents this summer and possibly a second if Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons follow Deron Williams and opt out for next season, writes Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post. Dallas entered the offseason expecting to have at least $32MM to spend, but that number could rise closer to $60MM if Nowitzki, Parsons and Williams all opt out. Bontemps notes that Dallas is counting on landing an elite free agent this summer after last year’s near miss with DeAndre Jordan. He adds that owner Mark Cuban is trying to surround Nowitzki, who’s likely to remain, with as much talent as possible before he retires.
Dwain Price of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram suggests Rockets center Dwight Howard is the first name on the Mavericks‘ free agent wish list. Price believes Miami’s Hassan Whiteside, Chicago’s Pau Gasol and Atlanta’s Al Horford are other centers Dallas will target if it can’t land Howard.

Deron Williams To Opt Out; Mavs Want Him Back

April 29th, 2016 at 12:18pm CST by Chuck Myron

Deron Williams plans to turn down his player option worth more than $5.621MM and hit free agency to seek a multiyear contract this summer, sources told Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com (ESPN Now link). The Mavericks and the point guard have mutual interest in doing a new deal, according to MacMahon.

The 11-year veteran who turns 32 in June likely needs offseason surgery to address a sports hernia. The Jeff Schwartz client said in the aftermath of the Mavs’ playoff ouster this week that he’d love to return to Dallas, and coach Rick Carlisle said he’d also like to see him return. President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson pointed to what he saw as a renewed sense of enthusiasm in Williams’ play this season, the first for Williams with the Mavericks.

Dallas will have a clearer shot at opening enough cap room to sign a player for the middle-tier maximum salary of an estimated $26MM with Williams’ option out of the way, as we noted earlier this week, but re-signing Williams would probably come at a cost greater than the value of his option (Twitter link). MacMahon thinks the market will afford Williams a decent raise on the close to $5.379MM salary he took home this year. Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post sees Williams ending up with at least twice as much as his option would have given him (Twitter link).

Much of the free agent money around the league last summer had already been committed by the time Williams worked his buyout from the Nets and signed with the Mavericks in mid-July. He averaged 14.1 points, 5.8 assists and 2.3 turnovers in 32.4 minutes per game this season, production not too far removed from what he put up in his final season with Brooklyn.

Is Williams the right point guard for the Mavericks? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.

Western Notes: Augustin, Williams, Gobert

April 26th, 2016 at 10:02pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Point guard D.J. Augustin, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, appreciates the opportunity he was given in Denver, but he isn’t sure if he will re-sign with the Nuggets this summer, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post writes. “This is my fourth summer being a free agent,” Augustin told Dempsey. “You never know what can happen. I’ve been promised things in the past, and it didn’t come true. I’ve had my hopes up in the past [and things] didn’t happen. It’s just all about putting things in God’s hands and my agent’s hands and I’m going to just relax. My wife is having our third child. So I’m going to just see what happens. Anything can happen. I love it here, and hopefully things work out.”

Regarding finally getting an opportunity to play after being buried on the Thunder’s bench, Augustin told Dempsey, “I was in a tough situation in Oklahoma. Like I told a lot of people, it wasn’t working out there. I did the right thing, my agent did the right thing and talked to those guys and they were kind enough to trade me, trade me to a good situation. Everything worked out.”

Here’s more from out West:

Mavs point guard Deron Williams‘ sports hernia is getting worse and he will likely need offseason surgery to repair the injury, as Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com relays (Twitter links). Williams, who has a player option worth $5,621,026 for next season, impressed the team and seemed to have fun for the first time in the past few seasons, executive Donnie Nelson said, according to Sneed.
Lance Stephenson said he would be comfortable remaining with the Grizzlies if they exercise their team option on his contract worth $9,405MM for next season, when asked if he would prefer to ink a multiyear deal instead, tweets Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.
Despite struggling with injuries this season, Jazz big man Rudy Gobert feels like his overall game has improved, as Jody Genessy of The Deseret News relays. “It’s been kind of weird this year with injuries to try to come back and get my rhythm back,” Gobert said. “My teammates got me involved, but it was kind of tough this year. I feel like I still got better. You can’t really see it on stats, but I feel like I got better.”

Mavs Rumors: Nowitzki, Parsons, Howard, D-Will

April 26th, 2016 at 2:15pm CST by Chuck Myron

Dirk Nowitzki said today that he definitely won’t retire, notes Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com (on Twitter), and the German-born star dismissed the idea he won’t be back with the team next year, calling it “crazy talk,” according to Mavs radio play-by-play announcer Chuck Cooperstein (Twitter link). Still, Nowitzki has on multiple occasions included the caveat that the Mavs have to avoid rebuilding in order for him to remain committed to the franchise, and coach Rick Carlisle expressed a level of uncertainty about Nowitzki’s future in Dallas. The power forward, who turns 38 in June, has a player option worth about $8.692MM for next season.

See more from Dallas in the wake of the Mavs’ playoff elimination Monday:

Chandler Parsons made a public recruiting pitch to Dwight Howard today, as MacMahon relays (ESPN Now link). The Mavs don’t want to pay Howard the max, as MacMahon reported previously, but Parsons is fond of the idea of again pairing with his one-time Rockets teammate. “I think he can still dominate the game,” Parsons said. “I think he can still be a great player in this league. And I think he’s going to leave Houston, so why not come here?”
Parsons, who like Howard is expected to opt out and hit free agency this summer, also gave further indication that he prefers to stay in Dallas, according to MacMahon (ESPN Now link). “Dallas is home to me,” Parsons said. “I loved it here. I came here to be a great player and to win a lot of games, and I’ve yet to do that here. So I feel that I have a lot of unfinished business here that I’d love to continue and grow into the player that I saw myself being when I signed here. The quicker we can get that done allows me to start recruiting and doing that whole thing.”
Deron Williams doesn’t know what he’ll do with his player option worth slightly more than $5.621MM for next season, but he said today that he’d love to be back with the Mavs next season whether he opts in or out, tweets Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com. Carlisle said he wants the same outcome, MacMahon adds (Twitter link).
Raymond Felton‘s contract is up at season’s end and, unlike Williams, he doesn’t have an option to decide on, but he said he plans to move into a house in Dallas and would like to re-sign, as Sneed also passes along (on Twitter). Felton has spent the last two seasons with the Mavs.

Southwest Notes: Demps, Williams, Conley

April 25th, 2016 at 12:21pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Pelicans have rescheduled GM Dell Demps‘ press conference, which was originally set for today, to an unspecified later date, Brett Dawson of The Advocate relays in a series of tweets. New Orleans has not made any final decision regarding Demps’ future with the team and evaluations of the rest of his staff are still ongoing, though current indications are that the executive will remain in his post for next season, Dawson adds. The front office personnel in New Orleans are still in a holding pattern as the team continues its evaluations, but the general feeling among the staff is that their posts are safe despite no definitive calls being made yet, Scott Kushner of The Advocate adds (via Twitter).

Here’s more from the Southwest Division:

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle praised the play of Deron Williams, who averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 65 appearances this season for Dallas, as Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News relays. “He had a very strong year,” Carlisle said of Williams. “He played great basketball for us. The only thing that derailed him were some health issues.” The point guard is done for the remainder of the playoffs with a sports hernia and may need offseason surgery to correct the issue, Sefko notes. Williams has a player option for 2016/17 worth $5,621,026, but he could become an unrestricted free agent if he chooses to opt out.
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, made a number of comments regarding Memphis’ future that bode well for him re-signing with the franchise, Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal relays in a series of tweets. “We’re all invested. We’re invested in each other, we’re invested in the community,” Conley told reporters. “We’re going into next season with a lot of room to make improvements. We feel like we’re all in this together and we have been since day one.“
Swingman Lance Stephenson, whose contract includes a rare team option worth $9.405MM for next season, said he’s found a home with the Grizzlies and wants to remain with the team next season, Peter Edmiston of WHBQ-AM tweets. The 25-year-old appeared in 26 games for Memphis after being acquired from the Clippers, averaging 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 26.6 minutes per outing.

Mavs Notes: Williams, Mejri, Anderson, Nowitzki

April 24th, 2016 at 11:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Point guard Deron Williams is expected to be sidelined through the rest of the Mavericks’ playoff run, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com. “I think he’s done for the year,” coach Rick Carlisle said after Saturday’s Game 4 loss to the Thunder. “… I don’t expect him to play in Game 5.” Williams appeared in 65 games this season after signing with the Mavericks last summer following a buyout with the Nets. He averaged 14.1 points and a team-leading 5.8 assists per game. Williams can opt out of his contract and become a free agent again this offseason.

There’s more news out of Dallas:

The Mavericks should start preparing for their future by giving Salah Mejri and Justin Anderson more playoff minutes, argues Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News. Gosselin says Dallas needs to focus on more players in their 20s rather than those over 30. He adds that Mejri gives the team its best chance to match the Thunder in rebounding. Both players are still on rookie deals, with Mejri, 29, signed through 2017/18, and Anderson, 22, under contract through 2018/19.
Dirk Nowitzki likely would be looking to leave Dallas if he hadn’t won a title in 2011, Gosselin contends in the same piece. The 18-year veteran has a player option for next season at $8,692,184 and could probably get much more to join a contender. But Gosselin thinks the idea of spending his entire career with one franchise is more appealing to Nowitzki than chasing a second ring.
Chandler Parsons expressed a desire to remain in Dallas during a Facebook chat earlier this week, The Dallas Morning News relays. Parsons has a player option worth a little more than $16MM next season. He is sitting out the series with the Thunder and may be done for the year after undergoing knee surgery in late March. “I love it here,” Parsons said. “My focus right now is to be healthy. The city has been great. I can see myself staying here and playing for a long time.”

Texas Notes: Aldridge, McCallum, Williams

January 4th, 2016 at 6:37pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Despite LaMarcus Aldridge‘s numbers being down from recent seasons, the Spurs are pleased with how well the power forward is adapting to the organization and its system, Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News writes. “It’s difficult to do in your first year,” coach Gregg Popovich said of Aldridge. “A lot of guys take a whole year to get used to us. He’s been remarkable in catching on this quickly.”

Speaking about Aldridge’s production in San Antonio, point guard Tony Parker told McDonald, “You can’t judge LaMarcus compared to his numbers from last year. It’s not fair. Any Spur, you can’t judge by their numbers. The way we play, it’s for everybody. We’re not going to have a guy who is going to score 30 points or take 25 shots. It’s just not going to happen with this team.” In 33 appearances for the Spurs this season Aldridge is averaging 15.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, down from his 2014/15 numbers with Portland of 23.4 PPG and 10.2 RPG.

Here’s more from the Lone Star State:

Mavericks point guard Deron Williams has come off the team’s bench the past two games, a role that the veteran says he doesn’t mind, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com tweets (ESPN Now link). “It doesn’t matter to me,” Williams said. “When I was out and missed those four games, we won all four and J.J. Barea was rolling, so you don’t want to shake up something like that. Coach said, Do you have a problem coming off the bench?’ I said no. I’ve done it a little the last couple of seasons. It’s not a big deal to me. If it helps the team, I’m all for it.“
Montrezl Harrell‘s role with the Rockets will expand while Donatas Motiejunas deals with back issues, and despite the rookie being the leading scorer for Houston’s D-League affiliate, the power forward is willing to do whatever the coaching staff asks of him, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle relays. “Every time I go down, I don’t focus anything offensive-wise,” Harrell said. “I know that will come. Those are great guys down there I played [with] in summer league. Every time I go down there I focus on playing defense and make sure my rotations are right. Going into the game, I have a scouting report on who I will be guarding and make sure I take great pride in making sure I do my job defending that person.”
The Spurs have recalled point guard Ray McCallum from their D-League affiliate, the team announced. McCallum is averaging 17.1 points, 4.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 37.7 minutes of action through seven total appearances for Austin this season.

Mavs Notes: Nowitzki, Carlisle, Williams, Famous

December 24th, 2015 at 10:59am CST by Chuck Myron

Dirk Nowitzki left the door open last month to playing beyond his existing contract, which runs through next season, and he more recently told Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com that he values the idea of playing a 20th season with the Mavs, which would entail re-signing in 2017. Nowitzki has a player option worth about $8.692MM for next season and told USA Today’s Sam Amick in November that, “I’m going to definitely ride this contract out.”

“Yeah, I think 20 years is special, especially with one franchise,” Nowitzki said to MacMahon. “So that would mean I at least have to play one more [season after this contract expires], but I think that’s something I worry about later. I don’t want to look too far ahead because the end is near. I don’t want to look too far ahead.”

Nowitzki passed Shaquille O’Neal on Wednesday for sixth place on the NBA’s list of all-time scoring leaders. See more from Dallas:

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle backed off Wednesday from comments he made Tuesday that suggested he’d push for roster changes if the team didn’t improve its effort, expressing his affection for the players and quipping, “I fly off half-cocked about every other day,” MacMahon observes in a separate piece. Owner Mark Cuban likes the roster and said to MacMahon that he doesn’t see a need for significant change, though he admitted inconsistent effort and energy have been problems. “Oh, it’s 100% about pressing buttons,” Cuban said about Carlisle’s Tuesday remarks. “The one thing you know about us, if we’re actually going to make a trade, nobody knows about it. And they were buttons that needed to be pressed, so I agree wholeheartedly with him.”
Deron Williams wound up with the better end of the buyout that halted his Nets tenure, posits Andy Vasquez of The Record, who points to Brooklyn’s significant decline in offensive efficiency without the point guard and Williams’ contentment in Dallas. “I feel a lot better,” said Williams, who has a player option worth about $5.621MM for next season. “My mindset’s a lot better. I’m happy in Dallas, happy where I am right now, and enjoy playing with this team.”
Jarrid Famous, who was with the Mavericks for the preseason, has signed with Yulon Luxgen in Taiwan, according to Sportando’s Orazio Cauchi. He had been playing with Fujian of China since shortly after Dallas waived his partially guaranteed contract prior to opening night.

Mavs Notes: Carlisle, Williams, Powell

December 23rd, 2015 at 8:59am CST by Chuck Myron

Rick Carlisle was disheartened with the effort the Mavericks gave in Tuesday’s loss to the Raptors, and he threatened in the locker room and again in a postgame press conference to push for roster moves, as Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com details. The Mavs, at 15-13, have for the most part played surprisingly well this season, but Carlisle’s message comes with the authority of a contract that runs through 2021/22 in the wake of the five-year, $35MM extension he signed last month.

“Look, if it’s going to be like that, these guys aren’t going to be Mavericks very long,” Carlisle said in his press conference. “I can promise you that.”

Several Mavs appeared surprised that Carlisle would take the sentiment public, MacMahon notes. It’s unclear whether Carlisle was suggesting that he’d try to talk the front office into midseason personnel changes or a roster shuffling in the summer, with only five Mavs in possession of guaranteed contracts for next season, as MacMahon points out. See more on Carlisle’s remarks amid the latest from Dallas:

Carlisle praised a group of end-of-the-bench players who were on the floor late in the game, as Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News relays, so it doesn’t appear that part of the roster is the object of the coach’s ire. In any case, the rant signals that the Mavericks believe they’re better than their already impressive record shows, Sefko contends.
Deron Williams felt a pop when he strained his left hamstring Tuesday, so he’s unlikely to play tonight in what would otherwise be his return to Brooklyn, MacMahon writes in a separate piece. Williams said to MacMahon this weekend that he was sure Nets fans would boo him, but he praised the Nets organization and GM Billy King. Williams spoke earlier about the repercussions of having struggled while playing on the max contract he signed in 2012, but he told MacMahon that the lucrative pact wasn’t a major factor in his troubles, since he’d previously signed a max extension with the Jazz.
The Raptors probably erred when they didn’t draft Dwight Powell last year, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange opines. Toronto took Bruno Caboclo and DeAndre Daniels ahead of Powell, an Ontario native who’s blossomed this season with the Mavericks.