Deron Williams: Star PG Joining the Phoenix Suns Wouldn't Be Insane

Free-agent point guard Deron Williams is leaving his options open going into the offseason and the Phoenix Suns reportedly hope to become one of those options.

According to the New York Daily News' Mitch Lawrence, Phoenix has its sights set on Williams as a home-run Plan B in the event Steve Nash (also a free agent) closes the door on returning to the team with which he's spent his last eight seasons:

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“If they lose Steve, then they plan to go after Deron, hard,” said a person with knowledge of the Suns’ plans. “They know he loves golf and they’re going to try to sell him on going out there.”

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At first glance, the suggestion appears to be pure nonsense. Why would Williams have any interest in leaving a team short of star talent only to find himself with a club that has even less star talent?

Let's hope the Suns have a better selling point than the golf courses out West.

Nevertheless, the move makes more sense than you might think—even with the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets making their own overtures to the 27-year-old.

After all, there's no guarantee the Nets will land Dwight Howard, and it's anyone's guess how the roster will gel even in the event free agents Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace both return. Sure, Brooklyn could see a dramatic turnaround in the near future, but turnarounds don't come easily.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks' roster is even more up in the air. Besides Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, Dallas doesn't have anyone especially exciting under contract. And, given that both Nowitzki and Marion are getting into their mid-30s, they might not exactly qualify as "exciting" either—at least from Williams' perspective.

Brooklyn's would-be franchise player is hitting his prime and looking for an opportunity commensurate with his top-shelf skills.

At the moment, the Suns obviously don't look like an especially promising fit on paper. But, that could change relatively quickly.

Phoenix already has enough room under the salary cap to offer Williams a maximum-salary contract, and it could afford a second high-impact player without too much difficulty. By using its amnesty clause on Channing Frye or Josh Childress, the front office would cut its 2012-13 cap figure by $6 or $6.5 million respectively.

Whether that added cap flexibility would actually translate into a premium free agent is anyone's guess, but the prospect of playing alongside Williams couldn't hurt.

Williams might also be persuaded by the Suns' elite training staff, an under-the-radar perk that should grab the attention of any veteran. The extended careers of Steve Nash and Grant Hill speak volumes on this point.

There's also something to be said for the guys the Suns already have under contract. It may not be a star-studded unit, but Marcin Gortat is easily one of the most impressive up-and-coming centers in the game. Jared Dudley has similarly proven to be an affordable and halfway-decent role player on the wing.

The Suns will select 13th in June 28's draft, a pick that could yield immediate help given the bounty of talent available this year. With 2011 draftee Markieff Morris, Williams could find himself surrounded by veteran and young help alike.

Obviously, there are more than a few "ifs" involved in this scenario—but, it's not as crazy as it sounds.

At the very least, golf courses won't be the only factor Williams considers when the Suns come knocking.