Deron Williams Injury: Updates on Mavericks PG's Hamstring and Return

Deron Williams exited the Dallas Mavericks' matchup with the Toronto Raptors with a left hamstring strain Dec. 22 and hasn't played since suffering the injury. However, he appears ready to return to the court. 

Continue for updates.

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Williams to Play vs. Heat

Friday, Jan. 1

Head coach Rick Carlisle said the plan is for Williams to play in Friday night's game, per Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com. 

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Williams Comments on Injury

Wednesday, Dec. 23

"My hamstrings have been a little tight the last couple of games," Williams said, per the Dallas Morning News' Eddie Sefko. "I came to the bench and told (athletic trainer Casey Smith) they were a little tighter than normal. And then as soon as I went back out there, I went to push off and felt a little pop. I hope I can (play Wednesday). The last thing I want is to miss that game."

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Injuries Continue to Have Negative Impact on Williams

With the way he has played in the last two years, it's somewhat easy to forget Williams was considered one of the NBA's elite point guards during his final years with the Utah Jazz through his first two-and-a-half seasons with the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets.

The 31-year-old made three straight All-Star Games from 2009-12 and averaged 20.8 points and 8.7 assists a night during his peak in 2011-12.

However, persistent ankle injuries subsequently limited his time on the court.

In large part because of those injuries, Dallas got Williams for a relatively modest $10 million over the next two years. 

Depth at the point isn't a major concern for the Mavs; Dallas has three more players other than Williams who play point guard. The issue is the fact Raymond Felton, J.J. Barea and Devin Harris are those three players.

Felton and Barea aren't NBA-caliber starting point guards—thriving instead in backup roles. The same could be said of Harris, who has a lengthy injury history of his own.

Dallas' fate was sealed when DeAndre Jordan spurned the franchise in free agency, and even with Jordan in the fold, the roster still had serious flaws.