Deron Williams Rumors: Mavericks Should Be Favorite to Land Star Free Agent

Mark Cuban didn’t blow up the Mavs for nothing.

The Brooklyn Nets’ Deron Williams will be the most sought-after free agent in the NBA this summer. While the race for D-Will’s services is expected to be tight, expect the Dallas Mavericks to distance themselves from the pack.

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reported that Magic Johnson believes Cuban and company will without a doubt be in the running for the All-Star floor general. Magic said that it isn’t a matter of luxury, but necessity.

“They have to make changes again," he said. Everybody has to chase the Thunder now. They are the best team in the West. And Dallas is going to have to make changes to keep up with this team.”

After manhandling the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals in 2011, Kevin Durant’s crew swept the Mavericks in the first round this postseason. The elimination was a wake-up call that you better believe the most aggressive owner in the league will respond to.

Johnson went on to say that the Mavs have, let’s call it a home-court advantage in their expected pursuit of Williams: “With Deron being from Dallas, I'm sure Mark Cuban is going to make a great run at him” (via New York Post).

And the Mavericks will possess the cap room to make such a run.

Jason Terry and Jason Kidd will become free agents this offseason, freeing up over $19 million. Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Brendan Wright’s contracts are non-guaranteed. That leaves Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Brendan Haywood, Roddy Beaubois and Dominique Jones as the only players with guaranteed deals on their roster (via Hoopsworld).

Throw in the fact that Marion and Haywood are amnesty candidates, and money won’t be a problem. And with Dirk Nowitzki still being one of the league’s best players, neither will talent.

Let’s get real: Brooklyn doesn’t boast a soul that resembles a superstar.

Dallas does, and on top of that, they have a history of winning. The Nets haven’t made the playoffs since 2007. Why would Williams, a veteran hungry for his first ring, commit to playing for an owner who has shown nothing that would lead you to believe that he knows how to run a successful NBA franchise?

If Williams chooses the Nets over the Mavs, it’d be a shocker.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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