New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams Isn't Going Anywhere

Ever since the New Jersey Nets made the blockbuster deal to land Deron Williams, their goal has been to build around him and get him to stay on the team long-term.

The Nets have been in a rebuilding phase. After going to back-to-back NBA Finals with Jason Kidd leading the way, and then being a playoff-contending team that struggles to get out of the first round with Vince Carter, the Nets became irrelevant.

They had one of the worst seasons in NBA history in 2009-10, with a record of 12-70.  They have been among the bottom-dwellers of the Eastern Conference ever since, but when they acquired Williams, things felt as if they were turning around.

Although the results have not drastically changed, the Nets are currently 6.5 games out of the playoffs and have been without Brook Lopez all year. You have to think that with Lopez, the Nets could be among the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference.

The most important thing to Williams is winning. He wants to win an NBA title with the Nets. A few months ago, talking to ESPN, he said, "My plan is to stay. Hopefully we can get some talent in here to where I can stay." He said that his chances of staying were "90 percent."

However, rumors started circulating that if the Nets do not acquire Howard, he would not stay with the Nets. There was also speculation that he was going to go to Dallas after the season.

The Nets were unable to acquire Howard, but they were able to add a player who makes them a more complete team. At the trade deadline, the Nets acquired Gerald Wallace from the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Nets are bringing in talent around Williams like he asked. They also have plenty of cap space to pursue the top free agents this offseason.

When everyone is healthy, the Nets currently have a team that should be able to compete night in and night out. A starting five of Williams, MarShon Brooks, Wallace, Kris Humphries, and Lopez, along with a bench that includes Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar and Sheldon Williams, is a solid team on paper.

Williams has said that he still intends to opt-out of his contract and become a free agent. Despite what many believe, this does not mean his days with the Nets are over.

What Howard did was take money and power away from himself. If he decides to stay with Orlando long-term, he can not receive as much money as he would have if he opted out this year and signed.

Williams is not going to lose money like Howard did. If he opts out and signs with the Nets this offseason, he receives significantly more money than any other situation.

The talks have been about Williams' desire to play for Dallas and that he will go there as a free agent. However, if you look at the Mavericks team, they are older. Their window to compete is closing as players like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry get older.

Whereas the Nets are a young, improving team that is hungry to get back atop the Eastern Conference. Williams comes across as an intelligent guy, and he could realize that the situation with the Nets is better than in Dallas.