Deron Williams wants to play for the Dallas Mavericks, and it sounds like the interest is mutual.
Marc Stein of ESPN reports that Williams has been in talks with the Brooklyn Nets about getting out of his contract so he can join the Mavericks, who are his hometown team. Williams and the Nets have been discussing a possible buyout for the two years and $43.3 million remaining on the 31-year-old guard’s deal.
The Nets could unload Williams by using the stretch provision for salary cap relief, but that would mean having to pay out the remaining money on his contract over the next five seasons. It’s no secret Brooklyn has tried to trade both Williams and Joe Johnson, who may have gotten interest from one Eastern Conference contender.
The Mavericks are reportedly “very motivated” to sign Williams after they were screwed over by DeAndre Jordan. However, they are not interested in trading for him because it would require too much salary cap space.
“It’s 60 to 70 percent that [Williams] winds up in Dallas,” a source told Stein.
The Mavericks have already signed another guard in Wesley Matthews, who was teammates with Williams several years ago with the Utah Jazz.
Williams’ production has rapidly declined since he signed a five-year, $99 million contract with the Nets in 2012. He averaged just 13 points per game — his lowest total since his rookie season — in 68 games last year.
