Deron Williams to New Jersey Nets: Better Than Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks?

After failing to land Carmelo Anthony, New Jersey still managed to grab an NBA star. In exchange for moving Devin Harris and Derrick Favors, the Nets received point guard Deron Williams from Utah. According to Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune, Williams is apparently more unhappy about going to New Jersey than he was playing for Jerry Sloan, which could mean many things.

But first, let's examine what the Nets gave up. Harris, Favors, two first-round picks (New Jersey's this year and Golden State's this year) and $3 million. Compare this to what the Knicks gave up for Anthony, and Mikhail Prokhorov looks like a genius.

Prokhorov will look like a fool, however, if Williams' feelings don't change and he refuses to re-sign with the Nets after next season. In that case, could he possibly head to New York to team up with Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire?

As a Knicks fan, I would have rather traded Felton (comparable to Harris), Gallinari (comparable to Favors) and two or three draft picks for Williams. The Knicks could have kept players like Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Randolph and a pick or two and gotten a player on the same level, if not better, than Anthony. Although the Knicks also acquired Chauncey Billups, he is not in the team's long-term plans.

Williams is better than Anthony in my opinion; anybody who read my 10-player list of stars better than Anthony knows this. Although gettin a better player in exchange for less seems like a no-brainer, the major issue with this deal is a disgruntled Williams.

After rumors that Williams forced Sloan out of Utah, nobody expected him to be traded before the deadline. However, the Jazz didn't want to be held hostage like the Nuggets were in the Anthony situation. It's hard to blame Utah for making the move, and they got a solid return, but nobody cares about the Jazz anyway.

As for the Nets, they now have a star for the next season and a half. But they won't win or even make the playoffs in that time and if Williams won't re-sign; they may have to trade him at this time next year or watch him walk away to New York or elsewhere for nothing.

Regardless of what happens, this has probably been the most interesting NBA trading deadline in recent memory. I'm not sure I can think of another recent deadline that has seen two of the top 10-12 players in the league change addresses. Especially when they both could end up in one place...