NBA Rumors: Deron Williams Reportedly Narrows List to Nets and Mavericks

With NBA free agency starting on July 1, the talk about where the biggest names will end up signing has come to the forefront of conversation now that the finals are over.

There is no bigger name on the market this summer than point guard Deron Williams.

ESPN is reporting on where Williams will likely play next season after narrowing down his choices:

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Brooklyn Nets star guard Deron Williams will be choosing from a two-team list that only features the Nets and the Dallas Mavericks, according to sources close to the situation. Sources told ESPN.com on Saturday night that, while this summer's No. 1 free agent remains "up in the air" about which team he'll ultimately chose, Williams already has made the decision to narrow his list of potential destinations to those two franchises.

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Williams was one of the first players to travel to Europe when the lockout started and has always been one of the smarter players when it comes to the financial aspect of the sport.

If this report is indeed true, fans can rest assured that Williams took his due diligence in this matter and came to this conclusion with his future and his family's well-being in mind.

What it Means

The belief all along was that the Mavericks and the Nets were two of the favorites to land the enigmatic point guard, but this recent rumor lends even more credibility to those stories.

Williams is a great player who performs at an All-Star level every game he plays, but his attitude was something that a conventional head coach like Jerry Sloan had a hard time dealing with.

While Brooklyn will shower the star with all the perks and amenities he could ever dream of, Dallas has a stricter way of running its ship. This decision will be tough for not only Williams but the two teams he is reportedly considering.

What's Next?

For the Brooklyn Nets, this is the biggest no-brainer in the short history of the new ownership. Williams gets people in the door and publicity for the team, but he also offers the Nets the chance to attract other possible free agents, such as Dwight Howard.

They must go all-in to keep the star in Brooklyn.

Dallas doesn't necessarily need Williams, but there is no doubting that a combination of Dirk Nowitzki and the All-Star point guard would be something the Western Conference would have trouble dealing with.

Williams is a smart businessman, and he will want to get started on the transition to the next phase of his career ASAP. There is little doubt he will sign with a team shortly after the free-agency period begins.

Check back for more on the National Basketball Association as it comes, and don't miss Bleacher Report's NBA page to get your fill of all things basketball.

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