NBA Rumors: Deron Williams' Assistant GM Role Will Not Convince Star to Stay

The New Jersey Nets are doing everything in their power to try and persuade Deron Williams to re-sign with the franchise. They have even gone as far as to giving him an unofficial title of "assistant general manager."

According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, the team actively seeks the star PG’s opinion and wisdom when making roster decisions.

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“He’s been involved in the process since December,” GM Billy King said. “We talked about, ‘This is Plan A and this is Plan B and C.’ In training camp he was in my office after practice every day just sitting there. He calls himself, ‘the assistant GM.’ “

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Despite the fact that Williams was so interested in improving his team during the offseason, nothing came of it and their major trade deadline acquisition was Gerald Wallace, for who they surrendered a top-three protected No. 1 in 2012 and among other pieces.

A core of D-Will, Wallace and Brook Lopez isn’t enough to compete in the Atlantic Division, let alone the Eastern Conference.

Which is why fans need to ease off and realize that Deron has every right to explore his free agency options. Bringing up his commitment to the organization apparently has no impact, according to Spears.

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“People get traded all the time,” Williams told Yahoo! Sports. “They don’t get backlash as an organization. If [players] leave, we are not loyal, we are ungrateful. People say stuff to me on Twitter. They already think I’m gone. They are out there bashing me, saying to me I’m a traitor. 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.”

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Williams did his best as a member of the organization for over a year now, but the 28-year-old knows his window will not be open forever.

He is not interested in wasting the prime of his career as part of a rebuilding effort.

Unless GM King can find a way to bring in some real superstar talent to surround his assistant with, it looks extremely likely he will depart in the offseason.