Deron Williams: Why the Brooklyn Nets Are a Top-3 Team in the East in 2013
The then-New Jersey Nets took a large gamble when they traded for Deron Williams in 2011, giving up young guard Devin Harris and highly regarded prospect Derrick Favors. They could have given up their future for nothing if Williams had bolted to Dallas, but sources from ESPN are reporting that Deron Williams is staying home.
Now, the new residents of the Barclay Arena are a trendy pick to make some noise in the Eastern Conference. The Nets finished 22-44 last season, but Brook Lopez was hurt for much of the season and Gerald Wallace came aboard late. Now you add Joe Johnson, a player who has been a perennial All-Star to the mix with Williams, and in a wide-open Eastern Conference, anything can happen.
The Brooklyn Nets are looking at fielding a starting backcourt of Deron Williams with Joe Johnson, who will form possibly the best tandem in the game. Johnson is grossly overpaid, but he's still been an All-Star five times and is a guaranteed 20-5-5 when he's on his game. He's been to the playoffs, and although he's never been in a Conference Finals, adds some experience this team needs.
The front court consists of Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and Brook Lopez. Wallace is one of the most underrated players in the league, as he's one of the best rebounders around and will make up for Brook Lopez' deficiencies on the glass. It's hard to imagine that somebody Kim Kardashian dated could be known for something other than that, but Humphries surprisingly averaged 13.8 points and 11 rebounds last season.
You've got to like this team because they are big; everyone on that starting line-up will have extended stretches where they can have a mismatch and post-up whoever is checking them. That doesn't mean they're not athletic and can't get up and down the floor either. Add in a nice second-year guard in MarShon Brooks who will be able to learn from JJ and come off the bench, and that's a pretty nice top-six.
LeBron James and the Miami Heat aren't going anywhere. They are still the absolute, overwhelming favourites for the Eastern Conference crown. And although they may lose Ray Allen, reports are surfacing that the Boston Celtics will be signing Jason Terry, according to Y! Sports. Personally, I'm done doubting the C's and calling them old, because they've proven me wrong every time.
But outside of Miami and Boston, I see no reason why Brooklyn can't be in contention for the third seed. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Derrick Rose may not return next season. No Rose, no elite team in Chicago. I've also written off the Orlando Magic, in the wake of their Dwight Howard drama.
Indiana is a great team and gave Miami a big scare in the Eastern Conference Semifinals this past spring, but they are really under the gun with a number of restricted free-agents. David West's contract is expiring, and Portland just offered Roy Hibbert a max contract. Can they re-sign West, or match Portland's offer? Combine that with Larry Bird retiring in the front office, and this seems to be a team in somewhat of a transition. Can they come out of it with their core intact? If not, they aren't the same team and won't be competing with Brooklyn.
What will be most interesting, is the cross-town battles. Can the New York Knicks respond? They are probably losing a key piece from last season in guard Landry Fields, who is being signed to a contract by the Toronto Raptors they'd rather not match. JR Smith and Jeremy Lin are also testing free agency, and combined with Baron Davis' injury, are we really taking the Knicks seriously? Did we ever in the first place, considering they didn't win a playoff game last year, or the year before that?
Behind an energized home crowd, an owner who will spend whatever it takes to put a winner on the floor, possibly the most dynamic backcourt in the league and a collection of hustle and young talent, the Brooklyn Nets are poised to make noise in a very depleted Eastern Conference in 2013.
