After a start to the season that was far below Brooklyn’s expectations, the Nets essentially placed anyone and everyone on the trading block -- in order to improve, or potentially to hit the reset button while intending to rebuild from scratch.
While the contracts of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and even Brook Lopez would appear to be difficult to move considering the dollar amounts that are guaranteed relative to those players’ current levels of production, at least one team appears ready to make a move to take one of them on.
From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:The Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings are discussing a deal centered on former All-Star guard Deron Williams, league sources told Yahoo Sports. ...
The talks have centered on sending the Nets point guard Darren Collison and forwards Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson as part of a multi-player package for Williams, league sources said. ...
The Nets’ partnership with Williams has become increasingly fractured over the past two years, and the idea of a breakup has appeal for both sides, sources tell Yahoo.
In light of recent events, we really shouldn’t be surprised.
Ownership in Sacramento is for some reason desperate to make an immediate splash; it’s the reason that a competent head coach was fired midseason for no good reason.
Williams has been great in the early part of the year, but health issues may be creeping into the picture once again. Williams is set for an MRI on a calf injury that forced him out of Brooklyn’s close loss to the Cavaliers on Friday.
Sacramento is reportedly pushing to get Mason Plumlee as part of the deal, and if the Kings persist, that will likely kill these talks. Brooklyn rightfully considers Plumlee relatively untouchable at this point, as they should -- despite head coach Lionel Hollins being somewhat reluctant to trust him thus far.
Nothing is imminent, and the conversations will continue. But make no mistake -- Deron Williams is available, and the Kings are one of the more likely teams to be willing to absorb that contract, and take him off of Brooklyn’s hands.
