Report: Deron Williams reaches buyout with Nets, expected to sign with Mavericks
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Point guard Deron Williams reportedly pushed for the Brooklyn Nets to grant his release so he could sign on with the Dallas Mavericks.
Well, ask and you shall receive, as Williams and the Nets have reached a buyout agreement on the remaining two years of his contract, reports NBA.com's David Aldridge.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the 31-year-old is expected to sign a two-year deal worth roughly $10 million with Dallas once he clears waivers.
It's reported the buyout will pay Williams $27.5 million, as most buyouts get players roughly 70 percent of what they're owed, which would have been $43.2 million over the next two seasons for the three-time NBA All-Star. This move will push the Nets back under the luxury tax threshold, saving close to $40 million while helping create $39 million in space for next summer's big free-agent frenzy.
A stretch provision will be used on the $27.5 million, with the Nets paying around $5.5 million each year until 2020, ESPN's Mike Mazzeo reports.
Brooklyn's front office has acted careless with their finances in the past, overpaying both Williams and Joe Johnson, pushing the franchise further into that luxury tax abyss. Using the stretch on Williams' full deal would have allowed the team to pay out the remaining funds over the next five seasons, granted the decision was made to do so prior to Aug. 31, although that's something the Nets weren't willing to do.
A trade would have at least garnered some assets in the process, but no other teams were reportedly willing to bite on a deal. The Sacramento Kings, who had previously shown interest in acquiring Williams, took themselves out of the running after agreeing to terms with Rajon Rondo on a one-year, $10-million deal.
Williams' relationship with Lionel Hollins reached a boiling point during the regular season, with Williams reportedly needing to be restrained from attacking his head coach following a meeting between the two to "air out grievances."
The fall from grace for the Illinois alumnus has been a sad sight to behold, with Williams' numbers dipping more and more over the past four seasons. In 68 games last season, Williams averaged 13 points (his lowest since his rookie campaign) on 38.7 percent shooting from the field, including 6.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds with a PER of 15.7. Wonky ankles and the wear and tear of a 10-year career have played a large part in that.
In joining his hometown Mavs, Williams will reunite with shooting guard Wesley Matthews, who he played alongside during their days as members of the Utah Jazz. Matthews is set to receive a max deal from Dallas following DeAndre Jordan's decision to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, thus backing out on a verbal agreement he had with the Mavericks.
While Williams could always pull a DeAndre and back out on a deal with the Mavericks, sources tell Stein that "it's 60 to 70 percent that (Williams) winds up in Dallas."