Deron Williams Rumors: PG Would Be Better off Avoiding Lakers to Stay with Nets
The Lakers are prepared to make some big changes after their surprisingly early exit from the 2012 postseason, and though dispatching Ramon Sessions hardly qualifies as a significant change, taking on Deron Williams certainly would.
The point guard ranks among the best in the league and doesn't want to spend the rest of his prime toiling away with the Nets, unless they significantly upgrade their roster to give him—and the rest of the franchise—a chance of competing for an NBA title. If that doesn't happen—it's hard to believe it won't, given the Nets' big move to Brooklyn—Williams will be seeking relocation.
Possibly to L.A.
On Wednesday, SI.com's Sam Amick wrote:
"For the Lakers, Williams could be a possibility if [Dwight] Howard is not. A source close to the three-time All-Star said he would be interested in joining the Lakers, though it would have to be via a sign-and-trade deal. … The source said Williams' preference, however, is for the Nets to improve the roster sufficiently enough that he can feel good about staying put rather than fear a repeat of this season, when they finished 22-44.
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Williams shouldn't avoid the Lakers because they're unable to compete or because they won't offer him a terrific chance of winning. Could you imagine him and Kobe Bryant in the same backcourt? The Lakers would immediately become one of the Western Conference's top threats.
But Williams can't leave the Nets now that they're finally embarking on a high-profile move to Brooklyn.
Fear over the future aside, he can't leave the Nets now that they're finally interested in compiling a roster that can compete. This team is going to be the biggest story in the NBA next season because of the move, and there's no way the franchise is going to embarrass itself by putting a product on the court that in any way resembles the futile 2011-12 version.
If Williams leaves now, when the Nets could finally be on the brink of something exciting, he'll never forgive himself.
Going to a team like the Lakers, with its rich history of success, would be nice. But it wouldn't be the same as staying with the Nets and finally getting the chance to help the team transition from a laughingstock to a contender. Winning is the most fun when it takes work to make it happen, and there is nothing that could gratify Williams like being a part of that turnaround.
He owes it to himself to stick around with the Nets and see what happens in a new place with new talent. He won't regret it, especially when he finally has the chance to help this team do something special.
