D-Will Likely to Sign with Reloaded Nets

Added by Deshawn Jelani on July 3, 2012.

A decision on where Deron Williams will sign could come as early as today.

Unrestricted free agent Deron Williams more than likely will sign with the Brooklyn Nets after they retool by resigning swingman Gerald Wallace and acquiring Atlanta Hawk forward Joe Johnson.  Williams, who has narrowed his choices down to the Nets and the Dallas Mavericks, is said to be making his decision as to where he will sign in the coming days, possibly as early as this afternoon. 

The Nets are likely Williams’ top choice because they have been relentless in composing a strong roster for the upcoming season.  Management has committed to building a championship roster and has shown this in this week’s trades and acquisitions.

The Brooklyn Nets first reached a verbal agreement with Wallace, who played for the team most of last season.  After the season was over, Wallace opted out of his $9.5 million contract that he was to earn next season in order to test free agency.  According to sources close to the situation, he will receive a four-year deal worth $40 million.

The Brooklyn Nets then arrived at a deal with the Atlanta Hawks on a multiplayer trade that sent all-star guard Joe Johnson to the Nets in exchange for several players whose contracts will be expiring.  The deal sends Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar, Jordan Williams, DeShawn Stevenson, and a protected 2013 first-round lottery pick to Atlanta.  The deal allows for Atlanta to clear some of their cap space as they attempt to rebuild their middle of the pack playoff team.

Orlando Magic center, Dwight Howard, has also expressed interest in going to the Nets.  According to Yahoo! Sports, Howard stated, “there’s only one team on my list and if I don’t get traded there, I’ll play the season out and explore my free agency after that.”

Although the Nets do not have the money to sign Howard with the aforementioned deals in place, and the Orlando Magic refusing to engage in trade talks with the team, it is possible that following next season, Howard can ink a deal with the Nets as an unrestricted free agent.  This would indeed cost the franchise a ton of money as they would be going over the salary cap (and therefore would have to pay the luxury tax for doing so). 

But billionaire team owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, may feel that money is no object and may sign Howard irrespective of how far over the cap they go.  This may be why Howard is so overzealous to sign with the organization.

D-Will, because of these improvements, is likely to sign with the team.  If and when this happens, the Nets will undoubtedly become a favorite to win their division next season and certainly a team that will compete for a national title in the coming years.