Deron Williams
Deron Williams is staying with the Brooklyn Nets.
Just after 7 p.m. ET Tuesday, the All-Star point guard tweeted, “Made a very difficult decision today …” along with a link to a photo of the Nets’ logo.
Williams’ decision to stay was confirmed by ESPN.com.
His contract will be worth $98 million over five years, according to sources.
Dwight Howard
The reportedly preference for Dwight Howard is to sign with the Nets in the offseason as a free agent, which would allow the franchise to retain the assets they do have.
Howard is enthused about teaming up with Deron Williams and he could likely receive a more lucrative adidas extension in Brooklyn.
The Magic have not given up on keeping Howard and are interested in a trade for either Steve Nash or Monta Ellis, but both possibilities are remote.
Deron Williams’ first choice is to stay with the Nets and to build something special in Brooklyn, but if it does not work out with his current team, his short list of desirable destinations includes the Mavericks, the Knicks and the Lakers, according to sources close to the situation.
Deron Williams
While the league’s post-lockout trade buzz has been centered on Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, little attention has been paid to Williams, who like Howard can opt out of his contract and become a free agent after this season.
Williams has publicly stated his desire to re-sign with the Nets, and New Jersey, which views him as a building block for next season’s move to Brooklyn, has refused to entertain potential trades involving Williams. Yet both sides know their future together is tied to Howard.
If the Nets are able to obtain Howard, either through a trade before the March 15 deadline or in free agency this summer, Williams will re-sign. If Howard goes elsewhere, Williams is likely to leave New Jersey, according to the sources.
Tyson Chandler’s hunch that he will be wearing a new uniform soon could prove to be true. And it may have nothing to do with Chandler and everything to do with Deron Williams.
Deron Williams
With serious interest registered from the Nets, Golden State, Houston and Sacramento, four teams with cap space and flexibility, the man who served as the glue for the Mavericks’ 2011 NBA title could be slipping away — but for reasons that go well beyond the uncertain free-agent market for Chandler himself.
The Mavs are in no rush to retain Chandler on a max offer, largely because they want to maintain flexibility for next summer’s free-agent class — which just happens to include Dallas’ own Williams.
Deron Williams
Deron Williams will not sign an extension with the Nets and will play out the entire 11-12 season before making a decision on his future.
Williams has been forthright in his desire for the Nets to improve their roster before committing to the club. The Nets acquired Williams ahead of the February 2011 trade deadline in a multi-player trade with Utah.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant is in the early stages of contract negotiations with the same Turkish team that has signed Deron Williams and has been pursuing Kobe Bryant, according to Durant’s agent.
Kevin Durant
Agent Aaron Goodwin told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that he has met with officials from Turkish club Besiktas and has likewise begun exploring opportunities for Durant in Spain and Russia. Goodwin added that playing in China is not something Durant is considering at this time. “The Turkish option is very intriguing,” Goodwin said.
“We’re looking at other countries as well. Kevin hasn’t agreed to play anywhere yet, but we’re looking for the best fit.”
Kobe Bryant and his representatives will meet with officials from the Turkish basketball club Besiktas on Saturday, according to sources.
Kobe Bryant
“At the moment there’s a 50 percent chance that Kobe may come to Turkey,” said Seref Yalcin, head of basketball operations for Besiktas, on Tuesday. Yalcin made the comments to reporters in Turkey, according to Reuters. “Everything will be clearer after the meeting on the 30th [of July].”
Besiktas signed Deron Williams in mid-July.
After agreeing with New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams on a contract to join his Turkish team during the NBA lockout, Besiktas coach Ergin Ataman declared his next target: Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant
Ataman will travel to the United States with Besiktas management officials next week to trumpet the signing of Williams, and wants to arrange a meeting with Bryant and Bryant’s agent, Rob Pelinka, he told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday afternoon.
“After we signed Deron, we started to look around and find a friend of his, find other NBA stars, who want to come over and play with us,” Ataman told Yahoo! Sports. “If Kobe wants to play with Deron in Istanbul, we can discuss this.”
Deron Williams
Update: Sources with knowledge of Deron Williams’ plans confirm his intent to play for Besiktas in Turkey if lockout continues.
New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams has a deal in place to play in Turkey if the NBA lockout is not resolved in time to salvage the 2011-12 season, according to a Turkish media outlet.
Williams, 27, would have an out clause in the deal if an agreement between owners and players is reached before games are lost, according to the report, which was confirmed by ESPN.com.
The deal was originally reported by Ismail Senol, an NBA-TV Turkey correspondent and broadcaster for NTV Spor.
Deron Williams
New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams has chosen to sign with Jeff Schwartz as his new agent, according to sources with knowledge of the decision.
The decision to sign with Schwartz’s Excel Sports Management means that the top three free agents in the summer of 2012 will all be represented by different agents.
Orlando’s Dwight Howard is represented by Dan Fegan, New Orleans’ Chris Paul signed with Leon Rose last summer and now Williams is aligning with Schwartz, whose client roster includes top veterans Paul Pierce, Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler and Lamar Odom, as well as young stars Blake Griffin and Kevin Love.
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