Chris Chambers - Getty Images
Mystery man
Back in the abbreviated offseason I stated that there were few guys that I'd trade Rajon Rondo for. One of the guys that might have possibly have made sense is Deron Williams. As the year has progressed, Williams has looked the part of disgruntled superstar on a bad team that loses a lot more than he's happy with.
Something’s missing " HoopSpeak.com
Long lauded for his broad skill-set, Williams isn’t playing like a combo-guard, he’s the Nets omni-guard. He’s attempting fewer shots at the rim and more from the outside (two years ago he was taking 3.4 three-pointers per game. Right now it’s at 6.0). Almost 1/5th of all his offensive production comes when he’s using a screen off the ball, according to Synergy. This isn’t right. Deploying Deron Williams like Kyle Korver is to rip car keys from a certain wearer of white, blood-stained scorpion jackets. (Although to his credit, Williams has becoming one of the 25 most efficient scorers in this situation. He’s proven to be one of the better shooters we have, yet he can’t do it all.)
In an Associated Press game recap written at the beginning of February, the following sentence was published: "Deron Williams’ teammates fumbled a half-dozen of his passes in the first three quarters." What we’re seeing right now is a disinterested basketball player who’s passive-aggressively letting his frustrations boil out on the defensive end. I watched every single defensive pick and roll sequence Williams has participated in this season, and he almost always goes under the screen.
So there are several questions I have no answers to right now.
0 recs | 18 comments
Yes, Deron's team is terrible but he's a proven star in this league
I’d trade Rondo for Deron for sure.
Celticsdude - February 18, 2012
And, yes, he is anstar, but his team sucks too much
Celticsdude - February 18, 2012
Deron Williams is a crybaby and a perfect example of a talented player in the NBA today who has no real character or backbone
He destroys and forces one of the greatest coaches in the league ( A Hall of Fame and well respected coach – Jerry Sloan) to quit in disgust. The he goes to a team that he knows will take time to rebuild, and now he “suddenly” realizes there is a lot of hard work and frustration in that process with little instant gratification. So what does he do? He cries, sulks and groans and probably wants to abandon ship, all while playing like a spoiled brat at half speed.
Young talented spoiled crybaby losers of the modern era…..The NBA today
Master Po - February 18, 2012
+1
You’ve hit the nail on the head once again, Po.
Gotta love these “It’s all about me” types. All they are interested in is big city bright lights and ready made championship teams. They have no interest in going through the process of building a team into a contender. It’s their right, but it’s distasteful.
It’s also one of the few reservations I would have about Dwight, and I know you loathe him. Although for me, I think he’s a little different than the rest. Dwight has been through the process. Orlando became an up and coming team when Dwight got there, and he then helped guide them to a Finals appearance. It’s just that he is stuck playing for a GM (Otis Smith) who is as dumb as a rock. I’d probably want out too. Orlando is going nowhere.
Which reminds me, I think this is going to be my new nickname for Ainge: “at least he’s not Otis”. I mean seriously, BBD for Bass? What idiot GM would do that trade? Oh yeah, Otis Smith.
KG's Knee - February 18, 2012
I have to agree, he is very talented and does not cause waves in the media and stuff like that...
but you make solid points about both the end of his stay in Utah and now in NJ. So, the Nets are not that good and DWill is frustrated and sulking, well the Hornets were not at times either and CP3 played hard all the time and made them competitive when they were not as talented.
mjtig - February 18, 2012
Agree.
LeBron, Wade, Dwight, CP3, Carmelo, DWill, and Boozer are the biggest examples of this.
Don’t get me wrong…I hate all of those guys that I mentioned above and also I hate Kobe, but I’ve never seen him whine outside of games.
What do I call respect? Tim Duncan. Ray Allen. Yao Ming. Steve Nash. Any of those big-names of the previous generation.
And now we have guys like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose in today’s generation…but I’ve never seen them cry before, yet.
SparzWizard - February 18, 2012
If by "anstar" you mean "anti-star"
Freudian slip maybe?
KG's Knee - February 18, 2012
proven star....? hardly
Master Po - February 18, 2012
just a more complete player than rondo
much better scorer – especially in the clutch. would be an interesting deal, but you have to wonder if he’s really worth 6 million more per season. For me, Rondo at 10 million is exactly equal worth to Deron at 16 mil, but I’m sure many disagree.
milt palacio's shot - February 18, 2012
Good point - Derron Williams is not worth 6 million more than Rondo
It’s a tough decision also because, D. Will has a good chance of attracting Dwight Howard to sign wherever he ends up but then that team really can’t afford to sign much talent outside of these two.
I’m more a proponent of the idea of signing stars to play with Rondo because the Celtics could afford to sign more than one superstar potentially. It’s hard to say which is more likely, acquiring Derron Williams by trading Rondo, then also acquiring Dwight Howard through free agency. Or attracting star players to Boston with max contracts allowing them to play with Rondo over the next two seasons.
Having a player close to Derron Williams’ level for 6 million dollars less seems like a nice asset. If the Celtics had D. Will for 16 million and never acquired Howard I’m not sure how much of a better position they’d be in. They’d have a more complete point guard, more reliable offense, but also less flexibility and less room to grow.
I also don’t think a team with Derron Williams and Howard is a lock for winning a title by any means. If the Nets end up signing both, I doubt the team would be that much better than Orlando in 2009-2010. If they both sign with Dallas on the other hand and Dirk Nowitzki is still there, that would be a different story.
BlackMass - February 18, 2012
is this trade possible?
rondo for dwill and pierce for tyson chandler?
reb0undwins18 - February 18, 2012
yes to rondo trade
no to chandler trade (NYK already has melo and chandler is better than pierce)
JuJuan some moore - February 18, 2012
Get Deron
only if Howard will not be traded this trade deadline, otherwise, stick with Rondo. Then let’s wait if Kaman will be bought out, or if DA is that interested with him he may as well trade for him.
ball is green - February 18, 2012
Sulker?
Doesn’t he have a history of pouting?
Big_Easy - February 18, 2012 via mobile
No, don't be crazy
Rondo plays on a higher level than Deron.
His stats are pretty much much inflated because he plays for one of the worst teams. I mean, c’mon, the guy was killed by JLin.
relja111 - February 18, 2012
Williams
Impressed with his offense when he is on his game
Less impressed when opposing PG blow by him with regularity.
CelticsFanNC - February 18, 2012
don't be fooled
even my grandma would post up 20ppg on the Nets team
relja111 - February 18, 2012
I wouldn't trade Rondo
But if I had to, I would throw in o neal’s expiring and get this guy, if he voids his opt out.
I would be even more tempted to do it if I saw Howard stay with Orlando or refuse to void his own opt out with another team.
florida dodger - February 18, 2012
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