When Deron Williams envisions the future, he sees the Nets playing in front of sold-out crowds in Brooklyn. And when he tries to improve the vision, he sees himself playing alongside current Orlando superstar Dwight Howard.
Yes, Williams feeding Howard is “in a perfect world,” but while Williams does not see himself going anywhere else, the presence of Howard would be all the incentive he needs to re-up long term with the Nets.
“I have a strong feeling that I’ll re-sign here,” Williams said yesterday in lower Manhattan, where he gave off nothing but positive vibes about the chances of his re-signing with the Nets, who can offer him five years and $100-million-plus when he opts out after the season — more than $42 million above what another suitor could pay him as a free agent.
“I’ve talked to [Howard] a lot,” Williams said. “We’ve had some conversations. He knows I want to play with him. I don’t think there’s a player in the NBA who doesn’t want to play with Dwight Howard. I think he would love to play with me as well.”
Williams said “I don’t think” Howard would simply dismiss the Nets and “I’m sure he would” re-sign if they could swing a trade for him.
“Get that fifth year, play with me. I’m sure he would,” said Williams, noting the impact Howard would have on him. “That would be enough to convince me. I’m convinced.”
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The one down note yesterday came not from Williams, but from Travis Outlaw, the Nets’ leading candidate for amnesty clause release, who reported for a physical with a broken right hand. While what amnesty action the Nets can take with an injured player is fuzzy because the new CBA is not yet in place, some suspect it would have no impact because Outlaw still would be paid.
“I can confirm that Travis Outlaw has suffered a broken right hand, and that we will have more information after he is evaluated by our team doctors later in the week,” general manager Billy King said.
So the Nets, who start training camp Friday, are putting pieces in place. The free-agent market is the first place to look. Williams, while acknowledging there’s lots of help out there, doesn’t see enough free agents to translate into an NBA title.
There is help to be found, however, specifically in either of the power guys the Nets are pursuing — in order, Denver’s Nene and Dallas’ Tyson Chandler. The Nets also are looking for a small forward, with a laundry list of candidates.
“Nene’s a great defender, just not as imposing [as Chandler] because of his length. I had to go up against him a lot in the [West],” said Williams, who played in Turkey during the lockout, proving his surgically repaired wrist is sound. “He can guard multiple positions. He’s a little better offensively than Tyson. He’s more of a scorer. He’s got great touch around the basket.
“Tyson’s more of a defensive center. He has to have a scorer along with him, like Dirk [Nowitzki]. But he’s so good defensively.”
So add it all together with the Brooklyn move, and the Nets’ future, one with Williams in it, is terrific.
“In a perfect world, we’d get the players that we need for me to stay here,” Williams said. “Brooklyn would be a great place to play. So that’s what I’m hoping for. That would be the best-case scenario.”