Marque Free Agent Deron Williams Re-Signs With Brooklyn Nets By Agreeing To Five-Year, $98 Million Contract!
Looks like Deron Williams will be staying with the Brooklyn Nets, as the All-Star point guard and this year’s most prized free-agent posted on his Twitter page that he “Made a very tough decision today” and posted a picture of the Nets new team logo confirming that he plans to re-sign with the team that’s moving from New Jersey to Brooklyn.
Williams, who chose staying with the Nets rather than going to his hometown Dallas Mavericks new deal is said to be worth up to $98 million over five years according to sources who remained anonymous since new deals can’t be made official or signed until July 11th. While the Mavs could only offer him a four year, $75 million under the new collective bargaining agreement.
The 28-year-old veteran point guard, though weighing offers from both the Nets and Mavs had always said he was willing to re-sign with the team as long as they put the right pieces around him. Which Nets GM Billy King and assistant GM Bobby Marks have been aggressive at doing this offseason. Having already re-signed forward Gerald Wallace and just acquiring shooting guard Joe Johnson through trade just yesterday. With the Johnson trade probably sealing the deal on Williams wanting to come back.
This is a huge triumph for a Nets franchise that gave up an enormous package to acquire Williams in a surprising February 2011 trade from the Utah Jazz, that sent promising forward Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris, two first-round draft picks and cash to the Jazz. It’s also huge because it gives the Nets a franchise player that will surely help them build buzz for their move to Brooklyn and their new arena the Barclays Center starting next season.
Williams decision didn’t take long as expected either, as he always maintained that he wanted to make it before he had to report to training camp in Las Vegas with the U.S. men’s basketball team this Thursday. Always one of the top point guards in the league since entering the NBA as the 3rd overall pick of the Jazz, Williams averaged 21 points and 8.7 assists last season. His decision became rather easy after the slay of moves the Nets made, that has three out of the five potential starters on the team among the best at their respective positions. Dare as I said yesterday after the Johnson trade that it even has the team looking like a possible legitimate top three or four team in the Eastern Conference for next season too. It should definitely make their move and first year in Brooklyn that more interesting though.
