NBA / Aug 31, 2010 / 2:30 pm

Why Deron Williams Will Leave Utah For Dallas

By

Deron Williams (photo. Christian Kozowyck)

There has been speculation from Jazz fans concerning whether or not Deron Williams wants to stay in Utah anymore. After losing teammates Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, Wes Matthews and Kyle Korver, is there any reason not to believe that Deron would want out? D-Will had an interview with David Locke (the new radio voice for the Jazz) a couple weeks ago, and he stated that he no longer lives in Salt Lake City during the summer months. Is this a sign?

I was in contact with Locke via Twitter about whether or not Deron’s heart is still with the Jazz after losing half of his team this offseason, and he stated that “Jazz fans are concerned about losing Deron, but what have the Jazz done that would make his heart be out of it? If it is, there’s nothing they can do about it.” I think losing four of the best players on his team would cause his heart to be out of it a little bit. Deron’s already stated that he’s frustrated with the way things are going in Utah, and this appears to only exacerbate his case.

In July of 2008, Williams signed a three-year extension (with a fourth-year option) for $70 million to stay with the Jazz and help bring them a title. Well, it’s been two years and there’s still no title. All the Jazz have to show for it is first round playoff exits and going over the luxury tax to bring back the same team back from ’09, with half of them leaving during free agency this summer. It’s not that Williams couldn’t take the Jazz to a championship; it’s just his supporting cast seems to fall apart at all the wrong times.

If D-Will chooses to opt-out of his contract in 2012, where would he end up? How about following his roots in Dallas to play with the Mavericks. Deron starred at The Colony High School near Dallas, and last year at the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas, that was the happiest Williams has looked in two years. Another thing to consider is that the Mavericks will have substantial cap room in 2012, right when Deron can choose to become a free agent. If Deron ends up in Dallas, he would have a much better supporting cast than with the Jazz.

The Mavericks have one of the best shooting big men in the history of the NBA in Dirk Nowitzki. Don’t get it twisted though – he’s not a choke artist like fans believe. This is a guy who is 7-0 and has averaged 23.0 points and 8.5 rebounds for his career, all on jump shots. But let’s face it; Dirk’s never had a great point guard in his prime during his time in Dallas other than Steve Nash – and he still couldn’t lead the Mavericks to a title. Devin Harris never got the chance to prove, Jason Terry is a shooting guard and Jason Kidd is over the hill. If Dallas ends up with a Dirk and Deron combo, and that’s over 50 wins every season with just those two alone. Then you consider after the Mavs signed Deron they’d have at least $9 million to spend on another free agent in 2012 – Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Antawn Jamison will all be available.

The best part of all is that Deron has the chance to play for the arguably the best owner in basketball, Mark Cuban. Cuban is the kind of guy that will gladly go into luxury tax in pursuit of a title, which he’s done numerous of times. Deron just wants to win, and at this point, he can’t win in Utah. Maybe Chris Bosh was right, it’s time players stop mixing loyalty when it comes to free agency.

What do you think?

Follow Andrew on Twitter at @_andymac.

Follow Dime on Twitter at @DIMEMag.

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  • Atlas

    This is embarrassing. There is no reason that an article like this could ever be taken seriously. There is no fact in it whatsoever, and what is even worse is that he admits that he purposely avoided including pertinent fact (such as jefferson addition) because it didnt work well for his little theory. It doesnt work that way. This article reflects poorly on Dime. I expect more out of you guys. I invite Andrew to bring something, ANYTHING factual or statistical to back up what you wrote. You claim that you just don’t think AJ will run with the team. Why? You cant just put that out there without any explanation and then expect it to be taken seriously.

  • cwk

    No offense. But this is a poorly written piece of article. It appears that the writer either doesn’t have enough knowledge about the Utah Jazz team/Deron Williams or intentionally neglecting facts that might weaken his arguments(if can be regarded as arguments at all).

    One suggestion to the writer:
    Don’t make a fool of yourself by doggedly defending your stands. If you disagree with the comments above, tell us your arguments and support them with evidences. If you can’t, then simply admit that you srewed up. Making mistakes doesn’t make you a fool, but making obvious mistakes yet refuses to admit it does.

  • Max

    what’s even worse is I found this article via an espn link. I’d expect this sort of homer based, fact absent, journalisticallly irresponsible garbage from dime. but i would hope that other sites wouldn’t provide links for it.

  • Jared

    Only one more log to add to the fire burning Macaluso at the stake (welcome to your internship!), since not many comments have mentioned this. How can you have an article speculating about 2012 possibilities with ZERO mention of the CBA uncertainty or team economics. D-Will is eligible to sign an extension under the current CBA this season, or take his chances with the new agreement. Maybe he doesn’t sign, but not even discussing that part of the equation is embarrassing.

    Also, let’s say he doesn’t sign an extension this year. If it’s clear he won’t re-sign, then during or before the 2011-2012 season the Jazz will shop him, a la Melo. He could probably secure a trade to a “preferred” team, but if you think being around for Dirk’s 15th season guarantees Dallas would be at the top of his list, you’re crazy. And what assets will Dallas have to secure that trade, even if D-Will wants to go there? You need to consider how things work in the real world before making bald, unsupported declarations.

  • http://www.slcdunk.com AllThatJazz / Amar

    daaaaaymnnn . . .

    (backs away from this thread without making any sudden movements or break eye contact)

  • Teabag

    LOL. This dude is getting PWWWWNDED by Jazz fans. Get him boys. This guy has as much talent as a rock.

  • Royce Griffiths

    As a Jazz Fan i would hate to see Deron leave i hate to see any player leave to be honest with the exception of breven knight lol..its always scary to think of what the future will hold. i thought the jazz would leave town or not be a good team after the mailman and stock left.. but things turned around quickly.. somehow things workout for the jazz we have only had a few down seasons compared to other teams… i love the jazz
    i loved boozer and korver brewer and the crew …but i for sure dont think that the jazz got worse this offseason.. in fact once they gel i think they will be better… Chemistry was an issue in the past few seasons… i think the team will be united this year…i could feel it when i was downtown for the jersey unveiling.. i know the jazz will be once again competing for the top seed in the west… the jazz just have problems always playing against the best players in the league ….. Jordan and Kobe…at least we have lost to the eventual champions….
    my predictions this year….
    al jefferson starter on the western all stars
    d will starting pg all star..
    lakers v Jazz western conference championship..
    miami makes playoffs out in second round
    yao ming retires mid way through the season..
    the chicago jazz #3 seed in the eastern conference lol
    mvp kobe…

  • Not An Intern

    Not that the writer is capable of understanding any of this, but here’s a little financial reality to the Mavs signing DWill as a FA after, ahem, he walks away from 17.8 million dollars under a more restrictive CBA in 2012:

    Nowtitzki: 20.9
    Marion: 8.5
    Haywood: 8.3
    Beaubois: 2.3
    Jones: 1.2

    Assuming they non tender Ajinca, that’s 41.2 million in salary. If they sign Deron outright, under the current CBA he’d start at 16.3. Now they’re at 57.5 million dollars with only 6 guys signed. And this year’s Cap is at 58.

    Add an MLE player, and Deron would be joining a team with a 35 year old Nowitzki, a 34 year old Marion, a 33 year old Haywood, and a few young guys. The rest of the roster would have to be made of up mins. That might work in Miami with the Big Three, but no superstar in his prime is going to Dallas with that roster and no flexibility to fix it.

    Nice work, Ace. If you want to be a real NBA writer, you need to do 2 things: One, learn the CBA. Two, quit DimeRag.

  • cory

    this article is ridiculous. whoever wrote this obviously has no clue what they are talking about. the jazz did an amazing job of replacing the players they lost and had no control over them leaving, other than brewer, who ultimately needed to go anyway. they got al jefferson, gordon hayward, and raja bell who are all better players than who they lost. and the jazz have made it to the second round or further 3 of the last 4 years, so obviously you should look things up before you say them.

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