NBA Free Agents 2012: Breaking Down Best Fits for Deron Williams
Deron Williams is the most coveted free agent on the market and can go wherever he wants to…or at least any team that can afford him.
Williams will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and will be looking to get a max deal. Considering he just averaged 21 points, 8.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game with a 57-point game mixed in, it’s understandable why.
In the hierarchy of point guards, I’d peg him below Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo, but above Tony Parker and Steve Nash.
With that in mind here are the three teams who can afford Williams, and make the most sense for both parties involved.
1. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs have always been linked to Williams because he is from Dallas, and owner Mark Cuban brilliantly set up his roster to have the salary cap to give him a megadeal this summer.
With Jason Kidd on his last legs, there is a clear need at the position and he could play with prolific scorers Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry.
Yet it’s hard to get over the weak championship defense the team just put up and it made me wonder if the defensive presence of Tyson Chandler was the real reason they have rings.
The roster is aging, and the lack of young talent scares me for the long-term future of this team. It’s something Williams has to consider.
2. Phoenix Suns
With Steve Nash all but gone, the Suns have surprisingly shown interest in Williams according to the NY Daily News. The report states that while they would love to bring Nash back, management feels they can entice Williams to the desert because “he loves golf”.
Hmmm. Not sure golf would convince me to make a life-altering decision, but maybe Williams is different.
While the roster may be gutted, there are multiple intriguing pieces to be excited about.
Marcin Gortat averaged a double-double this past year (15.4 points and 10 rebounds), while Jared Dudley and Channing Frye have both proven to be on the rise.
The Suns narrowly missed the playoffs this season, and would be favored to get their next season if Williams hoped on board. This is a team that could rise up the leaderboard in the next two or three years if Williams is willing to be patient.
3. Brooklyn Nets
This makes plenty of sense for the Nets, but why in the world would Williams want to waste any more of his career there?
They don’t have a first round pick and will need a small miracle to convince Orlando to trade them Dwight Howard.
Unless Jay-Z can work some “magic” and bring Howard to the Nets, Williams would clearly be signing because they are offering him more money than anybody else.
Then again, if they land Howard everything changes.
Conclusion
The teams who can afford Williams (and would actually shell out the dough) are rather slim, and if Williams is trying to win now the Mavericks are a no-brainer.
But if he is willing to have the opportunity to mold a team to his style of play while taking credit for all their success, the Suns should be seriously considered.
They are a much younger team that he can grow with for the foreseeable future. Dallas' window is only open for so long.
Williams has a very tough decision to make in the coming weeks.
