The New Jersey Nets are on a collision course with a dilemma in the form
of the team’s All-Star point guard Deron Williams. Williams’ contract
is up once the season is over making him an unrestricted free agent. The
Nets are not close to contending and you have to wonder if Williams
would be willing to stick around to be apart of a rebuilding process.
The Nets gave up a king’s ransom to acquire Williams in 2011. In
exchange for Williams, The Nets gave The Utah Jazz guard Devin Harris,
forward Derrick Favors, and two first round picks. It would be a huge
step backwards for The Nets if Williams were to depart.
More than ever for teams to contend in The National Basketball
Association they need a point guard. Williams is averaging 22 points per
game along with 8 assists during this lockout shortened season. The
highlight of the season for Williams and The Nets was when he poured in a
franchise best 57 points in a victory over The Charlotte Bobcats
earlier this month. The Nets cannot allow production like that to walk
away in free agency.
The Nets are looking forward to coming to Brooklyn, New York and they
need a star player to attract fans to The Barclays Center. The Nets
already have a big task as they will be trying to compete with The New
York Knicks for basketball supremacy in The Big Apple. Fans may attend
games at first due to the appeal of a professional basketball team, but
the people of Brooklyn won’t be forthcoming if there is a perennial
losing team taking the court.
What really hurt the cause of The Nets was when Orlando Magic center
Dwight Howard recently decided to stay in Central Florida through next
season rather than opting-out of his contract. The Nets were hoping to
re-sign Williams and bring in Howard to have a duo that could contend
with Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony of The Knicks. The Nets can
still have the duo, but it is a long shot.
The Nets and general manager Billy King must convince Williams that
Brooklyn is the place for him. By Howard opting for another year in
Orlando, it will give The Magic another year to smooth things over with
The All-Star center who has been on the fence about his desire to play
there. The Magic will definitely put on the full court press this summer
in trying to retain Howard’s services.
Originally with bringing Williams to The Nets, the team was hoping that
he would have the kind of impact on the team that former point guard
Jason Kidd had when he came to the team in 2001. It was easier to
re-sign Kidd as he was fresh off of leading The Nets to consecutive
trips to The NBA Finals in his first two seasons with the ball club and
his future with the team looked bright. The allure for Williams could be
winning a championship as well as all of the marketing riches that
await star players in New York City. King along with Nets co-owners
Jay-Z and Mikhail Prokhorov must convince Williams that his fame can
spread from Canarsie to Red Hook. The Barclays Center will be the jewel
of Brooklyn, and Williams can be the 14 karat diamond in the middle of
it.
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