NBA Rumors: New Jersey Nets in Trouble as Deron Williams Eyes Departure

The New Jersey Nets may not be having the best go of things right now, but the team's outlook will get much worse if they lose Deron Williams this summer. 

The Nets entered this season with the very real thought that Dwight Howard would come north and save the franchise from the league's doldrums. 

If landing Dwight Howard was a title-clinching three at the buzzer, the Nets clanked one off the rim. New Jersey will not land Howard, and that means the world to their star point guard. Even with a new arena in Brooklyn, Williams would probably rather go home than stick around in the northeast. 

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports the latest on the Nets and the lone superstar under their employment. 

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A person who has worked with Williams on a daily basis in the past reiterated this week that going home to Dallas remains an overwhelmingly attractive option for the 27-year-old point guard, who was shipped to the Nets against his will in what turned out to be a brilliant move by the Utah Jazz last February.

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The Jazz have since rebuilt a young core that will continue to get better in the West while New Jersey is about to suffer the same growing pains that Utah skirted. 

Instead of opening a new arena with a couple of stars on the roster, the team may be completely void of any superstars or depth on the bench. 

Berger continues with one vital observation. 

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It technically cost them nothing for Howard to say no, but for Williams, they gave up a massive haul of assets -- Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two first-round picks. They're all in with Williams and kind of need to see this one through to the end.

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Losing Howard was a swing and a miss that could have put the Nets among the elite in the Eastern Conference. 

Also losing out on Williams would be disastrous to a franchise that had hopes of contending just a few months ago. 

If Williams departs, the Nets would have to start over as a young team with no pivotal player. 

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