Should Jazz Talk to Williams This Summer?

BarneyGumble · Post #1 » by **BarneyGumble** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:37 pm

**Disclaimer: This is not meant to be a flame thread for Deron fans vs. Deron haters. Please limit your responses to cite basketball/business reasons only, no matter how you feel about Deron personally.**

Williams did not get Howard in New Jersey like he was hoping for, and most people see him leaving for either the Mavs or Lakers as a free agent this summer. My question, from a business and basketball perspective, is should the Jazz brass invite Williams for a chat this summer to guage his interest in returning to SLC?

Some facts:

-Deron wants to win above all else.
-Deron likes to play in front of a packed house every night (see recent articles).
-Deron says the next place he signs will be "where I want to retire."
-Deron was crushed about being traded from the Jazz, and especially to New Jersey.
-Deron has been professional publicly (never demanding trades, or throwing people under the bus like other malcontents).
-Deron liked, or appreared to like, living in SLC when he was with the Jazz.

Some speculation:

-Deron is not a guy who wants to bounce around from team to team. The "retire" comment shows he just wants to be where he can stay, raise his family, and compete on a winner. And really, who wants to retire in NJ or New York? I dont think Deron does....this is why the LA/Dallas rumors are flying. Those teams have bright recent pasts...but do they have bright futures with their aging superstars? Not sure....but Utah's future looks pretty bright.

-Other former Jazz players who left under less than ideal circumstances have been brought back and made happy here...meaning basketball and sound business can mend personal fences.

-Sloan is no longer here. While DWill may regret how things shook out with Sloan, I think he got an unfair amount of the blame for how Sloan left. Dealing with egos is part of the job, and Deron certainly has one. But lets not pretend Sloan didnt have one either. In any event...I bet Deron has learned a thing or two about relationships with coaches, players, and exectuives since that trade...

-A return seems to make sense for both sides. The Jazz are a top 10 PG away from being a serious threat, and Deron is a one deep team away from getting everything he wants.

What say ye? Good idea? Bad idea? Do him the formality just to mend the fences? Does the money work? Would a 4-year max contract to Deron stunt our future with rising players currently here? Thanks guys.

retiredcoach · Post #2 » by **retiredcoach** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:50 pm

Deron was already asked if he would consider returning to Utah and he said no, that chapter in his life was over.

He's smart enough to know why he shouldn't come back.

Hoops Addict · Post #3 » by **Hoops Addict** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:55 pm

We should offer Deron the Max.

He won't take it, but ought to be a bit tempted with all our new talent.

Ming Kong! · Post #4 » by **Ming Kong!** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:06 pm

Hoops Addict wrote:We should offer Deron the Max.

He won't take it, but ought to be a bit tempted with all our new talent.

Yup, we can tell him, look we'll amnesty Harris, and basically you'll get our current team in tact. We can use the MLE to sign a SF and we're title contenders. Don't forget we have GS's pick too. Basically loaned NJ Deron Williams for about 82 games to get him back, plus we keep Favors, Kanter, and GS's pick. LOL people would yell conspiracy for sure. Haha.

BarneyGumble · Post #5 » by **BarneyGumble** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:15 pm

Im thinking if Deron felt he was wanted back, and could be the man....he'd be stupid not to want to think long and hard about it.

He would get the max, be the man, have a great team with a chance to win, and know the grass is not always greener on the other side and be a bit more mature for it.....

jazzed77 · Post #6 » by **jazzed77** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:25 pm

I def think they shud at least ask....Deron said he still follows the team, has friends on the team and thinks they have a bright future....I would love to see this team with him running the point

KayAllTheWaay · Post #7 » by **KayAllTheWaay** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:40 pm

If there aren't too many bridges burnt, both sides would be dumb not to try it!

The Jazz with D-Will and two lottery picks would be damn hard to beat!

PG D-Will, Rivers, Watson
SG Burks, Rivers, Miles
SF Barnes, Someone whos traded for AJ&Harris
PF Millsap, Kanter, Evans
C Favors, Kanter

With another coach, thats a contender.

HolyToledo · Post #8 » by **HolyToledo** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:51 pm

We should offer him the Max and see what he does. We may have to Amnesty Big Al or trade him to have salary cap room therefore. I am not so sure he says no. Jazz have a brighter future than Dallas, Nets, or the Lakers. If I had to guess, I would assume he would sign with the Lakers in a sign and trade for Gasol and Sessions.

Post #9 » by **StocktonShorts** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:11 pm

retiredcoach wrote:Deron was already asked if he would consider returning to Utah and he said no, that chapter in his life was over.

That was also before Dwight Howard opted back in. Odds are pretty good that D-Will ends up in Dallas, but I still wouldn't rule him out of ever returning to Utah just because he said that. I've always believed that Deron doesn't care about bright lights/big city BS. I think he wants to compete and be the guy. Does Utah give him a better shot at that then Dallas? Would all of the fans ever fully embrace him again? What's his relationship with the Millers like? Is he a punctual lunch date?

Jazz are at roughly $53M for next year and I think the cap will remain at about $58M. For them to sign Deron to a max deal (~$18M) they'd need to move Devin Harris and either Millsap or Jefferson for some less expensive parts.

Ming Kong! · Post #10 » by **Ming Kong!** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:13 pm

HolyToledo wrote:We should offer him the Max and see what he does. We may have to Amnesty Big Al or trade him to have salary cap room therefore. I am not so sure he says no. Jazz have a brighter future than Dallas, Nets, or the Lakers. If I had to guess, I would assume he would sign with the Lakers in a sign and trade for Gasol and Sessions.

Actually we only need to clear about 8 million dollars. Next year we have under 48 million in salaries. You amnesty Harris, and we would be 18+M under the cap. Williams' 1st year would be 17.8M if I'm not mistaken. We can still trade Al Jefferson though for a starting SF and maybe a late first round pick or something.

Jazzfan12 · Post #11 » by **Jazzfan12** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:13 pm

No, Deron said this Monday that he'll never play for the Jazz again.

Post #12 » by **StocktonShorts** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:14 pm

Ming Kong! wrote:Next year we have under 38 million in salaries.

Pretty sure the Jazz are at $53M.

Post #13 » by **StocktonShorts** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:15 pm

Jazzfan12 wrote:No, Deron said this Monday that he'll never play for the Jazz again.

Source?

Ming Kong! · Post #14 » by **Ming Kong!** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:16 pm

HappyProle wrote:
Ming Kong! wrote:Next year we have under 38 million in salaries.

Pretty sure the Jazz are at $53M.

I meant 48. But you drop Harris, and you are 18 million under the 58 million dollar CAP, if it stays the same.

EDIT: I never realized we had Watson signed on for 2012/13. Also ShamSports has different figures than HoopsHype. Which is right?

Jazzfan12 · Post #15 » by **Jazzfan12** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:17 pm

HappyProle wrote:
Jazzfan12 wrote:No, Deron said this Monday that he'll never play for the Jazz again.

Source?

https://twitter.com/#!/DJJazzyJody/stat ... 3214375937

Ming Kong! · Post #16 » by **Ming Kong!** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:18 pm

HappyProle wrote:
Jazzfan12 wrote:No, Deron said this Monday that he'll never play for the Jazz again.

Source?

Meh, actions speak larger than words. Besides he can't really drop many hints considering he's under contract with the Nets.

Post #17 » by **StocktonShorts** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:18 pm

Ming Kong! wrote:
HappyProle wrote:
Ming Kong! wrote:Next year we have under 38 million in salaries.

Pretty sure the Jazz are at $53M.

I meant 48. But you drop Harris, and you are 18 million under the 58 million dollar CAP, if it stays the same.

How are you getting to 48?

http://www.shamsports.com/content/pages ... s/jazz.jsp

Is Sham missing something?

Post #18 » by **StocktonShorts** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:19 pm

Jazzfan12 wrote:
HappyProle wrote:
Jazzfan12 wrote:No, Deron said this Monday that he'll never play for the Jazz again.

Source?

https://twitter.com/#!/DJJazzyJody/stat ... 3214375937

Pretty sure Jody was referencing what Deron said back in January when the Nets came to SLC. I don't think this was a new quote.

BarneyGumble · Post #19 » by **BarneyGumble** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:27 pm

^Right. And since when is someone's twitter account a source? That's like citing my wife's best friend's brother's teacher as a source.

Jazzfan12 · Post #20 » by **Jazzfan12** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:29 pm

BarneyGumble wrote:^Right. And since when is someone's twitter account a source? That's like citing my wife's best friend's brother's teacher as a source.

...He's a writer for the Deseret News who travels with the team and interviews players.