Report: Deron Williams in buyout talks with Nets, hopes to sign with Mavericks

Tap here to view theScore's NBA Offseason Tracker, which includes the latest transactions and rumors.

Deron Williams is attempting to secure his release from the Brooklyn Nets in hopes he can sign with the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

The report states that the Nets have begun buyout talks with Williams, who has two years and $43.4 million left on his current deal.

Brooklyn has been unable to find a willing trade partner despite reportedly shopping him all year, and the team favors a buyout over waiving the former All-Star point guard. The Nets' ultimate goal is to avoid paying the luxury tax at the end of the season, and buyouts generally save the team money, both in real terms and against salary cap and tax calculations.

If Williams really wants out and is willing to forgo some of his guaranteed salary to free himself, it could represent a win-win. The average NBA buyout pays the player an estimated 70 percent, a split that would see Williams walk away with $30.4 million plus whatever he earns elsewhere, and could help the Nets get under the tax.

Despite historically large payrolls over the last few years, Joe Johnson making $24.9 million, and new contracts for Brook Lopez and Thad Young, the Nets have a means of ducking tax payments and becoming a "repeater" in the tax, which comes with a more intrusive tax bill and several roster-building restrictions.

To get there, the Nets would have to use the stretch provision on the remaining portion of Williams's deal, which would leave an approximate $6.1-million cap hit on their books through 2019-20. They would then need to make a subsequent move, like waiving Earl Clark, and forgo any other roster additions. It's complicated, but avoiding the repeater tax is an end worth being aggressive for.

If Williams is able to reach the open market, Stein says their is "strong mutual interest" between the 31-year-old and his hometown Mavericks, who are fresh off the DeAndre Jordan debacle.

"It's 60 to 70 percent that (Williams) winds up in Dallas," an unnamed source told ESPN.

Williams parting ways with the Nets in order to sign with the Mavericks would be the most recent twist in an unpredictable NBA offseason. While Jordan turned his back on a verbal agreement with Dallas, shooting guard Wesley Matthews is reportedly joining the club on a four-year, $70-million max deal. Matthews played with Williams as a member of the Utah Jazz during the 2009-2010 campaign.

Williams's numbers are far from those he posted in Utah, when there was a legitimate debate as to whether he or Chris Paul was the better lead guard. Thanks to persistent injuries and the general decline that comes with aging, Williams has missed 32 games in the past two seasons and averaged 13.6 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 41.7 percent, safely below his career averages.