Deron Williams gives the Nets a vote of confidence...

[Andrew]

...or not.

“I didn’t ask to be here. I got traded. I didn’t come here being a free agent. This is the first time that I’m a free agent in my career.”

He “probably” would have re-signed if the Nets had dealt for the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard before the March 15 trade deadline. While Howard was intrigued by New Jersey, the NBA’s most dominant center ultimately opted in to his contract for at minimum next season with the Magic.

“It’s a decision he made for himself,” Williams said. “I really have no comment on it. He did what was best for him. I respect that. I’m still friends with him.

“Oh yeah, it definitely would have changed things. I’ve already made it known that if he would have come I probably would have stayed.”

Not exactly a surprise. Good news for the Mavericks, I guess.

[volsey]

Damn you for the misleading title. He's likely gone this season, and you can't really blame him. Brooke Lopez' injury had a lot to do with that also I believe. Your second best player gone nearly the entire season, with no real supporting cast, and an incredibly inconsistent rookie in Brooks.

Now with Williams gone, and Howard being as unpredictable as he was leading up to this trade-deadline, it'll be interesting to see what he says after Deron is officially gone. I think it'll be doubtfull he'll want to head to NJ this time next year but we'll see. Can someone refresh my memory, did Howard start mentioning his desire in NJ pre-Deron Williams trade to NJ or after?

Not only this but with no major stars coming to NJ, the Gerald Wallace trade starts to look pretty sour as well. Kind of hinders the chance of building young or for the future at least. But it was a good risk to take, trading a high draft pick for a right now talent mentality. Just when I was getting optimistic for the team's future.

So Montreal Canadiens and NJ Nets as my favourite teams... remind me again why I haven't been watching as much sports lately as I used to

[Kenny]

Hate to knitpick here volsey, but I'd consider Kris Humphries a pretty good supporting player. A stats guru would probably shut down my argument, but I think he's done pretty well this season.

But yeah, no surprises with Deron.

[deihatein]

Not exactly a surprise. Good news for the Mavericks, I guess.

[Andrew]

Can someone refresh my memory, did Howard start mentioning his desire in NJ pre-Deron Williams trade to NJ or after?

Afterwards. He really only started talking about wanting out and his preferred destinations shortly before this season began.

Perhaps playing in Brooklyn will still hold some appeal for him but if Williams goes, I would expect the Nets are off Howard's list. I believe Williams has another year on his contract that he can opt into but beyond that I highly doubt he signs an extension without any kind of confidence that Howard will be joining him as soon as possible. If he does opt in then they could explore their options together as free agents in 2013, but my guess is the Williams won't be waiting around and will make his own decision independent of what Howard is doing.

[volsey]

Hate to knitpick here volsey, but I'd consider Kris Humphries a pretty good supporting player. A stats guru would probably shut down my argument, but I think he's done pretty well this season.

But yeah, no surprises with Deron.

I completely agree. I don't know if I agree with the "poor man's Dwight" comparisons that I've read before, but he is a very productive and solid player. I just feel he is very reliant on the team in order to produce on the offensive end. Sure he'll work hard and get his put backs and offensive seconds chances, but from the games I've seen (admittedly very few), he doesn't come off as a reliable low post scorer or a guy you can just lob the ball to down low.

[benji]

Anyone who calls him a Poor Man's Dwight is out of their got damn mind.

The "stats gurus" have been telling you all for years he's a double-double lock. And he's proven it, just like Ryan Anderson has proven his epic play. (And the Nets threw him in for free lol.)

If Humphries is anything he's a poor man's David Lee. Or a few years back Troy Murphy.

It just hurts so much that per minute stats are proven over and over again as valid yet people reject them because HERP DERP I'M A MORON. Even Simmons is hopping on the WS/48 train of all things (and failing to put the decimal in the right place) so it's time for everyone else to start understanding reality.

[Mavs4Life]

Not exactly a surprise. Good news for the Mavericks, I guess.

This

[The X]

At least he's being honest. I don't think he's ever indicated to them that he's going to stay a Nets' player or not. He's only been with them one season, he has no reason to feel loyalty to them.

Still can't believe the Nets gave up their 1st Rd pick with only top 3 protection

[Andrew]

He perhaps should've chosen his words more carefully, been a bit more diplomatic, but he certainly was refreshingly honest and spot on. I'd say the Nets will have to make one hell of a sales pitch to keep him.

[Sauru]

bah everyone in the league is a jerk now

[shadowgrin]

Especially these 3...

[Sauru]

well i cant really argue 2 of them, pierce i will fight you on all day

[benji]

[NovU]

That's Sauru's wheelchair. He kept his word.

[Sauru]

being overly dramatic is not being a jerk. guy has been nothing but good to boston even after being stabbed 150 times in the face or some shit. the other 2, mainly kg who always has been a known jerk i wont talk about.

[benji]

You were supposed to respond with this:

[Sauru]

my webfu is seriously lacking in my old age

[Andrew]

being overly dramatic is not being a jerk.

I'd argue that it's part of a jerk's toolkit, but not necessarily a defining trait. There is kneeing a guy in the nuts on a dunk though:

phpBB [video]

Alright, it was probably accidental and the dunk was pretty awesome. We'll let that one slide.

[Kenny]

How about accidentally punching a ref in the face?

phpBB [video]

[Sauru]

you can find these things for any players in the game

[Andrew]

Gotta hand it to Eddie F. Rush, he shook off that punch pretty well.

[NovU]

How about Blood Gang sign incident? Does that make him a dick enough?

[shadowgrin]

No. If that was the case then Derrick Rose is also a dick, which he isn't. He's humble. Humble MVP.

[Lamrock]

You mean trading a lottery pick for a rental of Gerald Wallace wasn't enough to get him to commit?

The writing is on the wall for him to go to Dallas, and as a fan of Dirk and Anybody But The Lakers, Heat Or Thunder, I wouldn't mind seeing it happen. Portland has the cap room and Deron is "friends" with Aldridge, but I think the chance was missed when they decided they didn't need him or Chris Paul because they were set at the 1 with Sebastian Telfair.