Deron open to signing Nets extension this offseason

[VC15]

1:00 PM, April 14, 2011 ι By FRED KERBER

There’s hope, Nets fans.

As the Nets cleaned out their lockers Thursday after a playoff-less season, superstar point guard Deron Williams strongly suggested that his future will reside in Brooklyn.

“I like the organization a lot,’’ said Williams, who will be a free agent after next season, assuming a lockout doesn’t cancel the 2011-2012 campaign. “I like the direction it’s going. I could definitely see myself staying here.’’

Williams, who will be moving his family to New Jersey, said he’s open to signing a contract extension this offseason.

“I would like to not have the distraction (of looming free agency) during the season,’’ he said.

As well, coach Avery Johnson said one of the Nets priorities is to re-sign free agent forward Kris Humphries.

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/netsblog/deron_open_to_signing_nets_extension_8fKsS6wTA4rCqr8tjq69aN?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=

 

[cruzg24]

Deron Williams isnt going to resign with the Nets.

 

[VC15]

Deron Williams isnt going to resign with the Nets.

Proof?

Knick fans are truly some of the dumbest fans out there...

The comments left by them speak volumes.

Have fun taking the broom by the C's.

 

[cruzg24]

The proof is in the pudding. And in this case the Nets record.

Have fun with like the 8th pick in the draft.

 

[VC15]

The proof is in the pudding. And in this case the Nets record.

Have fun with like the 8th pick in the draft.

Deron said that next year is the season that he would judge the team on...

Stick to baseball, champ.

OWNED

EDIT: For the record, we don't have a lottery pick this year.

 

[cruzg24]

Obviously next year would be the judgement year buddy and thats what I was referring to.

Stick to football chief, your predictions are a lot better there.

 

[VC15]

Obviously next year would be the judgement year buddy and thats what I was referring to.

Stick to football chief, your predictions are a lot better there.

He said that before this, and has given no implication that he wants to leave.

Deron wants to recruit this off-season, that won't go to well if he doesn't sign the extension when he is able to.

Is that too complicated for you?

 

[CameronCrazy06]

So because he doesn't think Deron Williams will resign, he's an idiot? Oh how ironic.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Sadly for Nets fans next year won't be too different.

 

[VC15]

Sadly for Nets fans next year won't be too different.

If we have the same horrible luck with injuries next season, you're right.

This team as is, healthy, with Deron for a full season is easily a playoff squad in the East.

This isn't even taking into account the 19 million we have in CAP space for the off-season.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

If we have the same horrible luck with injuries next season, you're right.

This team as is, healthy, with Deron for a full season is easily a playoff squad in the East.

This isn't even taking into account the 19 million we have in CAP space for the off-season.

8 seed at absolute best as the roster stands right now.

 

[VC15]

8 seed at absolute best as the roster stands right now.

We can only go up from here...

 

[CameronCrazy06]

We can only go up from here...

That's obviously not true.

 

[VC15]

That's obviously not true.

From 12 wins to 24 wins...

Progress is being made. Slowly but surely.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I understand they made progress this year but that doesn't mean they're guranteed to be better next year. This roster is a long ways away.

 

[wifeylove8383]

Deron Williams isnt going to resign with the Nets.

that

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I still can't understand why a star like DWill would want to play second fiddle to Melo and Amare in New York.

 

[lonesomefx]

I still can't understand why a star like DWill would want to play second fiddle to Melo and Amare in New York.

even if the nets win a chip it will always be that way, especially when they're in NY. its like, even if the mets become relevant, they will always be second to the yankees in NY

 

[Elite]

Not really, in the 80s the Mets were the big team in NY. The shoe was on the other foot where the Mets were the top team and the Yankees were the butt of the baseball jokes in NY. The New York fans will roll with whoever is on top in their state. If Deron gets Dwight to go there and they start winning big NY will embrace them just as much as the Knicks.

 

[Elite]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New Jersey Nets general manager Billy King believes his team will be able to sign All-Star point guard Deron Williams to a long-term extension once the NBA and its players reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

Last week, in his first appearance with the media after his wrist surgery, Williams expressed interest in staying with the Nets and being part of the franchise as it moves to Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season.

Williams, acquired in a trade with Utah during the season, has one more year on his contract and an option for another at $17.7 million, but he would like a long-term maximum deal.

"My thoughts haven't changed from the minute we traded for him [in February]," King said Wednesday, when he reviewed the Nets' 24-58 season. "The more we talk and the more I get to know him, I can sense that he knows the goal of this franchise. We've had some great conversations and I can tell we're on the same page moving forward.

"It's nice to hear that he wants to stay here and that's good to know. What others might have said doesn't matter. You should take what he said and what I said as being the real deal."

King announced that center Brook Lopez, who has never missed a game in his three-year NBA career, will undergo surgery next week for a calcium deposit in his right arm.

King would not address the uncertainty of the league without a new CBA, but he believes there should be no deterrent to improving the team in the offseason.

"We are in good shape," King said. "We have some cap space with the existing agreement. We have draft picks [the Nets own the Lakers' pick in the first round and their own pick in the second round], so a lot of good things can happen. But we have to get a CBA before any of it can be decided."

King acknowledges his job becomes more difficult without a CBA in place and a lockout looming at the end of the season.

"It does make it hard, because you don't know how much money you can spend, but it doesn't make it harder, because you know the guys you like and want to pursue," King said. "You just don't know how you can pay for those players, cap-wise. We can target guys we want, but you really don't know about cap space."

King doubted he could swing a trade before the draft in late June. He wasn't sure it was even wise to try doing so.

"I don't know if you want to make trades before this gets settled, because you're not going to make a trade to make significant cap space if you don't know what the cap is," King said.

"We have a star [Williams] and we have other pieces we like. We just have to build around the pieces."

King said the Nets need to become more athletic, especially at small forward. They will host 44 top pro prospects in a workout at their training facility May 7-8.

He also praised the play of Lopez, said the team hopes to re-sign free agent power forward Kris Humphries, and will consider bringing back shooting guard Sasha Vujacic, who also expressed interest in returning to New Jersey.

"We came a long way," King said. "We had a lot of guys who finished the season with us who we didn't think would be with us. [Coach] Avery [Johnson] kept the guys focused and ready to come to play every night. We had a lot of character on the team and a lot of nights, they did the best that they could.

"We never really had a full team all year due to trades and injuries. From where we started and what we had to go through, I'd say I was satisfied with the season. We had a lot of positive things happen."

ESPN