NBA Draft 2012: Possible Deron Williams Replacements for Brooklyn Nets

The Nets will be moving to Brooklyn next season, but superstar point guard Deron Williams already appears to have one foot out the door. 

No one, not even Williams himself, knows exactly what will happen. 

The front office could re-sign him, but if he signs elsewhere, the Nets will be looking for his replacement. The best place to do that is in the draft. The talent is young and impressive. A possible replacement is just waiting to be found. 

In the 2012 NBA draft, the Nets can get a top-three pick, If this happens, then Williams might stay. But if the Nets fail to nab a first-round pick by not getting a top-three pick in the lottery, then the superstar is probably gone, and he leaves a big hole. 

There are many guys that could be able to step up and fill that hole. 

If the Nets somehow land the No. 1 overall pick, grabbing Anthony Davis is a surefire choice. I know that Davis doesn’t play point guard, so he can’t technically replace Williams, but he won’t have to. If the Nets wind up with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, they will definitely grab the Kentucky superstar. 

Once Anthony Davis puts on a Brooklyn jersey, there is no way that the free-agent point guard will leave. With a starting lineup of Williams, Davis, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks and Gerald Wallace, the Nets could rise from the cellar.

They would also have Gerald Green and Brook Lopez to add to that solid roster. 

Davis was the AP Player of the Year and averaged 14.4 points, 10 rebounds and 4.6 rebounds per game en route to an NCAA Championship victory. 

Yes, Williams would definitely stay with Jay-Z if he landed the Wildcat. 

In an unfortunate turn of events, the New Jersey Nets could end up with absolutely no first-round picks and be forced to find Deron Williams’ replacement in the latter round. 

One of the possibilities there is Tyshawn Taylor of Kansas. The senior point guard was able to take the Jayhawks to a national championship. He is still a bit raw, but is great from a physical standpoint, standing at 6’3”. Taylor has a great first step, is very good with the ball in hands and is quick defensively. He is no Deron Williams, but he will be able to make the distress of losing the superstar a bit easier to swallow. 

Another late-round pickup that could blossom into a star is J’Covan Brown of Texas. The junior is a natural talent, and the game comes easy to him. He can shoot the ball effortlessly from deep range, as well as short distance. 

Brown is incredibly physical on both sides of the ball. On the offensive side, he is sharp and possesses great ball-handling skills. He is able to guard both quick and physical players when on the defensive side of the ball, using his strong hands. 

But Brown plays very naturally. He is not fluid, and his game requires more polish. The Longhorn tends to gravitate toward taking questionable risks and shots. However, he could still be a good player in the NBA. 

Hopefully, though, it will not have to come to this tough decision and Deron Williams will decide to stay as the club’s franchise player going into Brooklyn. 

A fan can hope.