The"Crap, it didn't happen..but it was awesome to think of" thread

[mavs777]

Deron seems to have a personality totally different than howard, rather than panicking and seemingly frustrated in his life changing potential decision it looks like he is enjoying the position he will be in.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slu...ncy_mavs040212

Nets let Deron Williams play ‘assistant GM,’ but it isn’t enough to keep him from free agency

Unsolicited opinions via social media haven’t helped the New Jersey Nets’ cause in keeping Deron Williams. Neither does the unofficial title of team “assistant GM.” And fans can forget about playing the “loyalty” card, for it won’t stop Williams from hitting the free-agent market this summer.

“People get traded all the time,” Williams told Yahoo! Sports. “They don’t get backlash as an organization. If [players] leave, we are not loyal, we are ungrateful. People say stuff to me on Twitter. They already think I’m gone. They are out there bashing me, saying to me I’m a traitor.

“I didn’t ask to be here. I got traded. I didn’t come here being a free agent. This is the first time that I’m a free agent in my career.”

Sounds like Williams is ready for free agency, although he hasn’t ruled out the Nets.

He “probably” would have re-signed if the Nets had dealt for the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard before the March 15 trade deadline. While Howard was intrigued by New Jersey, the NBA’s most dominant center ultimately opted in to his contract for at minimum next season with the Magic.



[ Related: Andrew Bynum’s immaturity hurts Lakers ]


“It’s a decision he made for himself,” Williams said. “I really have no comment on it. He did what was best for him. I respect that. I’m still friends with him.

“Oh yeah, it definitely would have changed things. I’ve already made it known that if he would have come I probably would have stayed.”


The All-Star was drafted third overall by the Jazz in 2005 and became one of the league’s best point guards. The Jazz weren’t confident they could re-sign Williams long-term and were nervous he would bolt as a free agent if he exercised an opt-out in his contract in 2012. Utah protected itself by trading Williams to the Nets on Feb. 23, 2011, for then-rookie Derrick Favors, guard Devin Harris, two first-round picks and cash.


A stunned Williams arrived in New Jersey with immediate hope from the rebuilding Nets to eventually re-sign long-term. The Nets failed to land a marquee free agent in the 2010 class highlighted by James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer. New Jersey also failed in its hopes to land then-Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, who was dealt to the New York Knicks last season. With a new arena to be unveiled in Brooklyn next season, the Nets were desperate to land a star and rolled the dice on Williams.

Now they’re looking at a precarious summer. What’s their sales pitch to Williams?


New Jersey’s roster has talent in oft-injured Brook Lopez, rookie Marshon Brooks and veteran newcomer Gerald Wallace. The Nets get to keep the 2012 first-round pick they traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Wallace if it is a top-three selection. The Barclays Center opens next season. Williams appears to have a solid relationship with general manager Billy King and coach Avery Johnson. The Nets could also make a draft day trade to woo Williams prior to the official start of free agency.

“I want to win. At the end of the day, I’m not getting any younger,” Williams said. “I’ll be 28 when I sign this next deal. I have to look for the best situation for me.”


King says another drawing card for Williams is influence on constructing the team’s roster.


[ Also: Did Knicks sit on Jeremy Lin news to sell more playoff tickets? ]


“He’s been involved in the process since December,” King said. “We talked about, ‘This is Plan A and this is Plan B and C.’


“In training camp he was in my office after practice every day just sitting there. He calls himself, ‘the assistant GM.’ “


As a free agent, expect Williams to have a strong suitor from his hometown Dallas Mavericks. The reigning NBA champions will have the money this summer to offer Williams a big contract to join forces with All-Star Dirk Nowitzki. Williams says loved ones back home wouldn’t mind seeing him return.

But those voices don’t carry significant weight considering Williams has a reputation of not being swayed by the masses. He was the only American NBA star to play overseas during the lockout, suiting up in Turkey, and he left Texas after high school to play at Illinois.


“No pressure. They know it’s my decision,” Williams said. “People know how I am so they’re not going to say anything to me. They’d definitely love for me to play [in Dallas]. I know that. I’ve known that my whole career. The fans on Twitter, a lot of Dallas fans on Twitter, tell me to come back home. We’ll see.”


Williams doesn’t appear stressed about the situation. The Nets should be since a lot is at stake. No Williams probably means no All-Star will help open the new building in Brooklyn. No Williams means the gamble to acquire Wallace, who has a player’s option for $9.5 million next season, didn’t work and they lost a potential high first-round pick in the process. No Williams means the Nets gave up Favors and the third overall pick in last year’s draft (Utah rookie center Enes Kanter) for nothing.


Through all the risk, Johnson and King maintain hope.


“He’s been to our [arena] site. He knows what the vision is. Maybe we give him a reminder every now and then, but he knows where we’re headed,” Johnson said.

Said King: “[Williams] and I were at [the arena site] in May just looking at the dirt. He doesn’t want to go back down there until it’s done.”


Time will tell if Williams returns to Barclays Center as a Net or a booed visitor.

[Underdog]

“No pressure. They know it’s my decision,” Williams said. “People know how I am so they’re not going to say anything to me. They’d definitely love for me to play [in Dallas]. I know that. I’ve known that my whole career. The fans on Twitter, a lot of Dallas fans on Twitter, tell me to come back home. We’ll see.”

>spluge<

[MavsFTR]

It's happening. It has to.

[nowhereman]

D-Will for sure (it better). Dwight - I wouldn't count on it.

[LonghornDub]

I mean, yeah, he's coming to Dallas. Totes.

[oilfieldtrash]

I think it's a done deal. Deron has said his next stop he wants to retire there especially for his kids. What better place for your children than home so they can visit grandma and grandpa? Deron is at the age where you realize that family comes first. I'd honestly be shocked if Deron doesn't sign in Dallas.

[Budapest Maverick]

Please team, just don't fall apart now. (it may or may not influence Deron's decision, but still...)

[mavs777]

Originally Posted by Budapest Maverick

Please team, just don't fall apart now. (it may or may not influence Deron's decision, but still...)

It won't Deron knows most of this team like jet/odom and probably haywood won't be there next year. Might be better to keep our top 20 pick.

[sefant77]

Dont know, the way Davis is playing i think we still have to dodge the 10-12% bullet of the Nets winning the lottery.

Could be that Deron is thinking something like "If the Nets win the lottery i stay, if not i go to Dallas". Could be also the same with Portland.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by sefant77

Dont know, the way Davis is playing i think we still have to dodge the 10-12% bullet of the Nets winning the lottery.

Could be that Deron is thinking something like "If the Nets win the lottery i stay, if not i go to Dallas". Could be also the same with Portland.

There is no significant chance whatsoever that Deron will be basing the remainder of his NBA career on the fate of a guy who has never played a second in the NBA and could easily end up being a bust.

[mavs777]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

There is no significant chance whatsoever that Deron will be basing the remainder of his NBA career on the fate of a guy who has never played a second in the NBA and could easily end up being a bust.

completley disagree, davis will be a star. But if New Jersey does get the number 1 pick you know they will trade it.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by mavs777

completley disagree, davis will be a star. But if New Jersey does get the number 1 pick you know they will trade it.

You cannot "completely disagree" with my statement, as I wasn't offering an opinion on what he'll do. I think he'll most likely be a very good player, but that's not what I was saying.

He could "easily" be a bust because we can't predict the future--regardless of what we know about Davis specifically. No marquee free agent in his right mind would ever base his decision on something like that.

[EricaLubarsky]

Anyone else finding it hard to care about much of anything before free agency opens? Even the draft looks like a let down with no first rounders and only a 31-45 and a 50+ pick in the second. I love this team but its really hard to throw much enthusiasm behind them. I have faith that they will draft well and/or play ball to tip what they have into something better, but it just doesnt seem like the team has direction and won't have direction until their roster for 2012-2013 takes shape whether its a rebuild or an all-in summer.

Maybe its just the strange pacing and so many game in such a short time that all games just feel meaningless, or maybe its just how apathetic the team looks at times. I don't know, but this is the hardest its been for me to pay attention to the team since the 90s.

I'm content catching a few games after work but I really wouldnt mind if they fast-forwarded to the playoffs, then to the draft and then to Free-agency.

[mavs777]

At this point mavs would keep their top 20 pick.

[Kidd Karma]

Originally Posted by mavs777

At this point mavs would keep their top 20 pick.

Cool, deep draft...supposedly, we'll give Houston the 30th pick next season.

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Anyone else finding it hard to care about much of anything before free agency opens? Even the draft looks like a let down with no first rounders and only a 31-45 and a 50+ pick in the second. I love this team but its really hard to throw much enthusiasm behind them. I have faith that they will draft well and/or play ball to tip what they have into something better, but it just doesnt seem like the team has direction and won't have direction until their roster for 2012-2013 takes shape whether its a rebuild or an all-in summer.

Maybe its just the strange pacing and so many game in such a short time that all games just feel meaningless, or maybe its just how apathetic the team looks at times. I don't know, but this is the hardest its been for me to pay attention to the team since the 90s.

I'm content catching a few games after work but I really wouldnt mind if they fast-forwarded to the playoffs, then to the draft and then to Free-agency.

I feel exactly the same way. This compressed season has really made it tough to watch. Let's get Deron this summer and come back next year to do battle!

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by BPo001

I feel exactly the same way. This compressed season has really made it tough to watch. Let's get Deron this summer and come back next year to do battle!

The compressed season hasn't made it tough to watch.. the Mavs play has made it tough to watch.

[mavs777]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieloh...ature=youtu.be

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by mavs777

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieloh...ature=youtu.be

That's pretty sick. Punk-ass Barnes.

[mavs777]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/in...gm_search.html

Aldridge also happens to be close to Williams, the New Jersey guard who sat out Wednesday's game with an illness. Aldridge and Williams grew up together in Dallas, and are one year apart in age. In the offseason, Williams is an avid golfer, and he often plays the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas course in Irving, where Aldridge has a home on the third hole.

"We have always joked about going home together one day, of playing in Dallas one day," Aldridge said.

[mavspwnage]

Originally Posted by mavs777

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/in...gm_search.html

yes please

[Wang Zhi Zhi]

Originally Posted by mavs777

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/in...gm_search.html

hopefully they're not so close that DW decides to join LA in portland, who has lots of cap space and possibly 2 top-10 picks this summer.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Wang Zhi Zhi

hopefully they're not so close that DW decides to join LA in portland, who has lots of cap space and possibly 2 top-10 picks this summer.

Portland sucks so bad that those picks don't mean a damn thing - they just blew up their Greg Oden squad... Deron wants to win a ring, not spend the rest of his career rebuilding.

[nowhereman]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Portland sucks so bad that those picks don't mean a damn thing - they just blew up their Greg Oden squad... Deron wants to win a ring, not spend the rest of his career rebuilding.

Bizarre post.

They wouldn't suck if they added Deron. Fringe playoff team with a near-elite young player and two potential high picks in a stacked draft and cap room... vs middle of the pack playoff team with no long term pieces in place and a superstar that might retire in 2 years? Two years from now, I could see why people would rather have Portland's future without Deron than our future without Deron.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by nowhereman

Bizarre post.

They wouldn't suck if they added Deron. Fringe playoff team with a near-elite young player and two potential high picks in a stacked draft and cap room... vs middle of the pack playoff team with no long term pieces in place and a superstar that might retire in 2 years? Two years from now, I could see why people would rather have Portland's future without Deron than our future without Deron.

Portland has one of the most underachieving front offices in the league - they're always touted as being "one piece" away from being a true contender, but they keep blowing up their roster and replacing their coaching staff every few years.

If Deron wants that level of uncertainty for the rest of his career, then he might as well stay put with the Nets...

Oh, and we're suddenly a "middle of the pack playoff team" with a superstar who is going to retire in two years??? Newsflash: we're the DEFENDING NBA CHAMPIONS with a superstar whose skillset could keep him playing at an effective level until he's 40 years old. Talk about bizarre posts...

[sefant77]

I allready checked it some weeks ago. Too bad Aldridge contract goes until june 2015. Dirk and Marion expire in 2014, pretty sure Cuban will handle every future contract to secure a max FA slot in 2014.

Too bad 2014 isnt the year LMA hit the FA...two years win now with Dirk and then Deron recruits LMA to Dallas.

[j0Shi]

SVG just confirmed that Dwight wanted him fired.

[j0Shi]

http://www.nba.com/magic/video/2012/...675/index.html

Hilarious

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

http://www.nba.com/magic/video/2012/...675/index.html

Hilarious

Orlando is a mess of a franchise right now...

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Portland is a huge mess. They are ridiculously young and inexperienced...exactly what Deron has now. It isn't like you insert him in there and voila! They don't even have a decent center. I'm sure Thabeet is going to be the big draw!

[LonghornDub]

People in Portland hate the Blazers' front office. I've spent significant time there. I bet fluid would confirm.

[Kidd Karma]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

People in Portland hate the Blazers' front office. I've spent significant time there. I bet fluid would confirm.

Is this for the past 15 or so years? I can see the hate, when you had Roy, Oden, LA, Batum, Webster, Fernandez and couldn't get anything done. Portland could have been Seattle/OK City.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Kidd Karma

Is this for the past 15 or so years? I can see the hate, when you had Roy, Oden, LA, Batum, Webster, Fernandez and couldn't get anything done. Portland could have been Seattle/OK City.

It is but it also spans the past few years specifically. The firing of Cho caused an absolute uproar. There are other things, too.

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

People in Portland hate the Blazers' front office. I've spent significant time there. I bet fluid would confirm.

Yup. More specifically, they hate Paul Allen.

[EricaLubarsky]

I can't really see him being lured by NBA-unproven rookies so I highly doubt he's headed to Portland, but I just think it would be horrible irony if the New Jersey draft pick lured Deron to Portland.

[LonghornDub]

I guess you never really know until it happens, but if he does end up leaving Brooklyn, I can't see him going anywhere other than Dallas or the mega-market teams (none of which have capspace, AFAIK).

[howdoesmydirktaste]

I'm glad we didn't trade our team to get Howard. That was the most awkward press conference today with Van Gundy. He doesn't give a shit anymore. He wants to be fired. I loved it when he said "it's 12:02. They can fire me at 12:05, I'll find something to do. It will be a good day". Then he goes on to talk about how Howard told management to fire him. . . . . Then

Then Dwight Howard walks up, puts his arm around Van Gundy and starts giving cliche sports answers to questions and Van Gundy gets the hell out of dodge before the media gets the chance to start asking those same questions about SVGs job security with Dwight present. <---run on, don't care. Pure gold if you haven't seen it.

This is what happens when you let a player run a front office. We dont need that here. Carlisle and Cuban wouldn't put up with that crap.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by howdoesmydirktaste

I'm glad we didn't trade our team to get Howard. That was the most awkward press conference today with Van Gundy. He doesn't give a shit anymore. He wants to be fired. I loved it when he said "it's 12:02. They can fire me at 12:05, I'll find something to do. It will be a good day". Then he goes on to talk about how Howard told management to fire him. . . . . Then

Then Dwight Howard walks up, puts his arm around Van Gundy and starts giving cliche sports answers to questions and Van Gundy gets the hell out of dodge before the media gets the chance to start asking those same questions about SVGs job security with Dwight present. <---run on, don't care. Pure gold if you haven't seen it.

This is what happens when you let a player run a front office. We dont need that here. Carlisle and Cuban wouldn't put up with that crap.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/77...rd-wants-fired

[dude1394]

I very much wish we had Howard. Svg has been there way oo long

[Kante]

I really do not want Howard in Dallas, i take Deron Williams over him. You can't rely on Howard down the stretch (i know, as long as Dirk is here there is not a problem) but he is also mentally so weak. So, no thanks!