Player support of NBPA executive director Billy Hunter is waning. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams says change is needed at the top of the league’s players association and says NBPA chief Billy Hunter needs to go, reports CBSSports.com.

Hunter has been the National Basketball Player Association’s executive director for the past 16 years. He is the subject of a 469-page report released Thursday by independent law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in which they questioned Hunter’s use of union finances and accused him of failure to properly manage conflicts of interest.

“I think change is needed, top to bottom,” Williams said. “I don’t think things were getting voted on like they should have been,” Williams said. “I’m sure there’s guys that are still with Billy, and some guys that aren’t. We’ve just got to figure out what the next step is.”

That independent law firm also said that Hunter’s 2010 contract extension, reportedly worth $18 million, was not voted on by the board of 30 player representatives.

Deron Williams said he was “surprised” at coach Avery Johnson’s firing. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

After the Brooklyn Nets unexpectedly fired head coach Avery Johnson on Thursday, much of the blame fell on star point guard Deron Williams, due to the pair’s reported rift.

But Williams downplayed those suggestions on Thursday. He told the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy Thursday night that he had nothing to do with Johnson’s firing. In fact, he said, he was as “surprised” as anyone.

“I was surprised,” Williams said in a telephone interview with Daily News. “I never had any conversation with (GM) Billy King about not liking coach, nothing about coach Johnson. Avery was a big reason I came back, because him and Billy. So I was surprised.

The Nets fired Johnson on Thursday after a 14-14 start and a horrid month of December in the franchise’s much-anticipated first season in Brooklyn.

For Williams, the situation mirrors one two years ago when he was with the Utah Jazz. Coach Jerry Sloan retired then after a reported rift with Williams.

Last week, Williams caused a stir when he said that he had never been comfortable in Johnson’s offense. But on Thursday, he tried to put aside any notion that those comments led to bad blood between him and Johnson.

“It’s almost like I’m always on the offense when I talk about Utah because of how things ended there with coach Sloan,” Williams said. “So the next day I went in, talked to coach Johnson and made sure he knew that I didn’t mean anything by it, and he was like, ‘No worries, I haven’t even thought about it.”

Johnson was in the final year of a three-year, $12 million contract. Williams, who signed a near $100 million contract this offseason, has struggled this season. He has averaged 16.6 points per game while shooting only 39.8 percent from the field.

For the first time, Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams has given some specific insight into what caused him to pass up his hometown Dallas Mavericks and remain with the Nets for their move to Brooklyn over the summer. According to a Tweet from The New York Times‘ Howard Beck, it has a lot to do with the Mavericks’ famous owner.

Deron Williams elaborated on choice of Nets over Mavs. Says Mark Cuban's absence at meeting helped cinch decision.—
Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) October 08, 2012

Deron met w/Carlisle and Donnie Nelson. But he had questions about Mavs' future that only Cuban could answer, he said.—
Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) October 08, 2012

Cuban missed the crucial meeting with Williams because he was in Californai shooting episodes of “Shark Tank,” the Emmy-winning reality show for which he is a judge, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.

New Brooklyn Nets point guard C.J. Watson, Derrick Rose’s former backup in Chicago, said that teammate Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA, according to tweets from media members, including The New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy and The Star-Ledger‘s Colin Stephenson.

CJ Watson, who played with Derrick Rose, said Deron Williams is the best point guard in the league

—
Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) July 24, 2012

Watson calls Deron the best point guard in the league. Says Derrick Rose won't be mad at him for saying that.

—
Colin Stephenson (@Ledger_Nets) July 24, 2012

Watson reportedly wanted to return to Chicago, but the Bulls declined to exercise his $3.2 million option for this season. He then signed a two-year deal with Brooklyn. The 28-year-old Watson averaged 9.7 points and 4.1 assists per game last season with Chicago. He was a part-time starter while Rose battled injuries throughout the season.

If Watson is right and Rose doesn’t care about his comments, then any attention they receive now should fade away quickly. But if Rose isn’t happy about Watson’s statement, the words could become a motivating force.

Last season, Rose was unhappy with the Indiana Pacers’ celebration after an early-season victory over Chicago.

“I’ll never forget how they celebrated just from winning this game,” Rose told reporters after the game. “I can’t wait to play them again.”

Any fallout would have to wait a while to play out. Reports on Monday said Rose may be out until March as he recovers from ACL surgery.

Deron Williams said the Nets’ trade for Joe Johnson pushed him “over the hump” to re-sign with Brooklyn. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams, who recently re-signed with the team as a free agent, admitted Friday that he was “really close” to leaving the team and signing with the Dallas Mavericks.

What made him come back to the Nets? Their brash move to acquire the Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson this week.

“I was really close to going to Dallas,” Williams told reporters at the Team USA basketball training camp in Las Vegas, according to CBS. ”I actually thought that’s where I was going to go, but I had the meetings and I changed my mind. Once I got out of the meeting with Dallas, the way they were going, the team they were putting out there, and we just made a trade for Joe Johnson, I just felt that team for a longer time would be a better team.

“Joe I think got me over the hump. I’ve never played with anybody like him. A guy on the wing who can get his own shot, get me involved, is a great defender. I think we can be one of the top backcourts in the NBA for sure.”

On Monday, the Nets agreed to trade for Johnson, sending DeShawn Stevenson and the expiring contracts of Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar and Anthony Morrow to the Hawks in exchange.

During the week, the Nets also signed Bosnian forward Mirza Teletovic and acquired Reggie Evans in a sign-and-trade deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. They also re-signed forward Gerald Wallace. Williams told reporters that the flurry of moves has him “excited” for what’s to come during the season.

“I think we’re going to have a pretty good team this year, so we have a chance to become better,” Williams said, according to ESPN. “A lot of our guys are a little underrated. Brook Lopez is a little undervalued. Gerald Wallace, people say he’s old. He’s 30 years old. The same with Joe. It will kind of be like a rejuvenation for all of us.”

And the Nets might not be done yet, as SI’s Sam Amick reported Friday that there is still a chance they could land megastar center Dwight Howard in a trade with the Orlando Magic.

Deron Williams’ decision sent out the following tweet shortly after 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday night:

Made a very tough decision today…. lockerz.com/s/222071318—
Deron Williams (@DeronWilliams) July 03, 2012

The link goes to the new Brooklyn Nets logo, an apparent indication that Williams has decided to rebuff the advances of his hometown Dallas Mavericks and re-sign with the Nets. He can ink a five-year, $98 million deal on July 11. (Dallas could only offer four years and $75 million.)

Brooklyn, of course, acquired former All-Star Joe Johnson on Monday, giving the team one of the biggest and strongest backcourts in the league. The club also re-signed forward Gerald Wallace. Those moves no doubt impressed upon Williams that the Nets are serious about getting better.

D-Will may also have taken notice of the renewed reports that Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has eyes only for Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Nets are close to completing a trade for Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson in a move that would likely take the team out of the running for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, according to multiple reports. The deal was apparently first reported by the Star-Ledger‘s Colin Stephenson.

Hearing the Nets-Joe Johnson deal is "pretty much done.''

—
Colin Stephenson (@Ledger_Nets) July 02, 2012

NBA.com‘s David Aldridge reported the terms of the deal.

Breaking: Nets "very close" to acquiring Joe Johnson from Hawks for Farmar, Petro, Morrow, Williams, Stevenson and protected pick (Houston).

—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 02, 2012

Multiple reports initially said the deal was contingent on free agent point guard Deron Williams re-signing with Brooklyn, but now reports say the trade will happen either way.

The trade likely takes the Nets out of the running for Howard, who has requested a trade and reportedly prefers to go to Brooklyn. The team had tried to acquire Howard throughout last season. Now, if the trade for Johnson goes through, the team’s cap situation would make a move for Howard more difficult.

ESPN.com‘s Chris Broussard tweeted about the Nets’ decision to move ahead with the trade for Johnson even though it may cost them a chance to land the All-Star center.

Nets, of course, would've preferred to get Dwight, but Magic refused to engage in trade talks. Source: 'They didn't want to dance with us.'

—
Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 02, 2012

Source on Nets moving on from possibility of getting Dwight: "Dwight blew it in March'' when he waived opt-out clause.

—
Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 02, 2012

The players in the deal for Johnson– Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Williams and DeShawn Stevenson — are not essential pieces for the Nets. The team was able to hold onto both Gerald Green and MarShon Brooks, two young players the organization likes.

ESPN.com‘s Chad Ford and Marc Stein, who had previously reported the trade talks, reported on Sunday that the inclusion of Brooks was one of the snags that was holding up the move. The two sides were able to work around that issue.

As the deal is currently set up, the Nets would hold on to their own future first-round draft picks. The first-round pick included in the deal is a lottery-protected pick from the Houston Rockets.

New Hawks general manager Danny Ferry now will have plenty of cap space for next summer. Johnson signed a six-year, $119 million deal in 2010. At the time, Atlanta looked to be on the rise, but the Hawks’ progress stalled. The team has failed to make the jump into the Eastern Conference’s elite. With the Heat, Bulls and Pacers all looking strong in the near future, Atlanta’s hopes of winning with its current core look bleak. By moving Johnson, the team will now have a chance to rebuild next offseason.

The Hawks-Nets trade talks involving Joe Johnson have hit a snag. (Darrell Walker/Icon SMI)

The proposed trade of Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets hit a couple of roadblocks on Sunday afternoon, ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chad Ford reported.

First, the Nets have balked at including 23-year-old guard MarShon Brooks in the deal. Second, they worry they are forfeiting future “financial flexibility.” And third, they want to make sure that Deron Williams is on board first before signing off on a deal for Johnson.

The proposed trade for Johnson is part of the Nets’ scramble to acquire another big-name player to pair with Williams in the hopes of luring Williams, the top free agent on the market, to stay with the Nets. The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard has also reportedly requested a trade to Brooklyn.

Stein and Ford broke down the most recent trade offer on the table. The Nets would send the expiring contracts of Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro and Jordan Williams to the Hawks. But the Nets would prefer to keep one or two of those expiring contracts and instead include one of their free agents — Gerald Green or Kris Humphries — in the deal, as part of a sign-and-trade.

If the Nets can convince the Hawks to take on Green or perhaps Kris Humphries in a sign-and-trade, it would allow them to stay over the salary cap and keep their mid-level exception to sign an additional free agent. Sources say that the Nets have serious interest in Bosnian free-agent forward Mirza Teletovic to add additional frontcourt depth.

Brooks started 47 games for the Nets last season, averaging 12.6 points and 2.3 assists per game.

Free agent point guard Deron Williams will meet with the Dallas Mavericks first on Monday before heading back east to meet with the Brooklyn Nets. (Chris Chambers, Getty Images)

Deron Williams will give the Dallas Mavericks the first shot to woo him in free agency.

Williams will meet with the Mavericks Monday morning before heading back to the East Coast to meet with the Brooklyn Nets later in the evening, ESPN’s Marc Stein reported Sunday.

Last Sunday, Williams narrowed down his choices to remaining with the Nets or signing with the Mavericks. The Nets can offer Williams more money — five years and about $100 million, compared with the Mavericks’ four years and $75 million. But the Mavericks can offer Williams a chance to play for his hometown team and a better chance to play for a championship alongside Dirk Nowitzki.

Stein reported that both Nowitzki and Mavericks owner Marc Cuban have been blowing up Williams’ phone with recruiting pitches since free agency started at 12:01 a.m. Sunday morning. However, neither will be able to make the meeting on Monday.

Previous reports have said that Williams and fellow free-agent point guard Jason Kidd plan to sign together, with the Mavericks or Nets.

The Nets are also planning to meet with free-agent point guard Steve Nash on Monday, Stein reported. Nash already has reportedly received offers from the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors.

The Brooklyn Nets are close to giving Deron Williams another reason to re-sign … or a reason to leave. Adiran Wojnarowski of Yahoo! sports reports in a tweet that The Nets and Atlanta Hawks are close to a deal that would send Joe Johnson to Brooklyn, and that a decision should be reached at some point today.

Nets, Hawks could reach a decision on possible Joe Johnson deal today, sources tell Y! If trade doesn't happen, Nets will push for OJ Mayo.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 01, 2012

The Nets could use Johnson as an effective backcourt partner for Williams should the point guard elect to stay in New York City, or as a building block should Williams sign with his hometown Dallas Mavericks.

The Nets and Hawks are reportedly talking about a deal for All-Star guard Joe Johnson. (Brian Babineau/NBA/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets are currently having talks with the Atlanta Hawks to possibly acquire All-Star guard Joe Johnson so he could be paired with Nets free-agent guard Deron Williams, Yahoo! Sports reports.

The NBA’s free-agent period begins Saturday at 12:01 a.m. and Williams, considered the top free-agent this season, reportedly will meet with the Dallas Mavericks and the Nets on Monday, then denied that he and Mavericks guard Jason Kidd have decided to play for the same team.

Of course, this deal is dependent on Williams re-signing a deal with the Nets. Johnson, a six-time All-Star, has played 12 seasons with the Celtics, Suns and Hawks and averaged 18.8 points a game for the Hawks last season.

Brooklyn and Atlanta are engaged in talks on a possible Joe Johnson trade, sources tell Y! Nets plan would be to pair with Deron Williams.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 01, 2012

Both Hawks and Nets are engaged in talks on several fronts. No deal close on Johnson, but sides have gone back and forth on possibility.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 01, 2012

#Hawks source says Joe Johnson trade is one of several trade possibilities being discussed. None close to fruition for now.—
Michael Cunningham (@ajchawks) July 01, 2012

Deron Williams and Jason Kidd will come as a package deal to either the Dallas Mavericks or Brooklyn Nets, ESPN’s Ric Bucher reported Saturday.

Bucher reported that Williams, he most coveted free agent on the market this offseason, will meet with both teams on Monday before deciding where to sign. Last Sunday, Williams narrowed down his choices to remaining with the Nets or signing with the Mavericks.

One source told Bucher that Williams and Kidd have already decided to sign with the Nets, but more sources tell him that Williams is still making up his mind. But most signs point to Williams re-signing with the Nets and Kidd joining him as the team’s backup point guard.

First, Williams playing golf with Kidd in the Hamptons on Long Island this weekend, where Kidd has reportedly recently purchased a home. Also, ESPN NBA analyst John Hollinger tweeted that the salary-cap logistics make it more likely that, as a duo, Williams and Kidd would choose Brooklyn.

If DWillams and Kidd are a package deal, gotta think it’s Brooklyn.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) June 30, 2012

@ESPNSteinLine Looking at cap situations, Kidd almost certainly gets paid more with Nets.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) June 30, 2012

Delonte West publicly campaigned for Deron Williams to sign with the Dallas Mavericks by taking to Twitter and pitching Williams different selling points. (Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images)

Deron Williams, who is set to become a free agent July 1 after playing for the Nets last season, received a pitch via Twitter from Mavericks guard Delonte West to come to Dallas and team up with Dirk Nowitzki next season.

Among his many sells were the opportunities to play for the “best owner in all sports,” “win the Western Conference no problem,” play for a “real coach that UNDERSTANDS…real dude like urself,” and last but not least, play with Nowitzki, “the best playa u ever played with.”

West said he knows Brooklyn “has a lil more money over der,” but in Dallas, where Williams grew up, West said he would have “fam support here.”

Williams, who is rumored to be choosing between staying with the Nets for their inaugural season in Brooklyn or signing with the Mavs, made $16.3 million last season for the Nets.

He would likely make less money if he signed with the Mavs, who owe over $43 million to their franchise player Nowitzki over the next two seasons and another $18 million to Shawn Marion over the next two seasons. Dallas is also looking to re-sign Jason Terry and Jason Kidd, who accounted for more than $20 million last season.

West, meanwhile, is a free agent who made $1 million last season. It’s unclear whether the Mavericks plan to re-sign him.

Williams tweeted on Thursday afternoon that he spent the day at an East Hampton golf club with Kidd, adding “let the speculation begin?????”

A Dwill…u need to come to Dallas mane man…we got a chance to win a championship here dog….dirk be the best playa u ever played with..—
Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) June 28, 2012

Real talk…I know it's a Lil more mOney over der but u home here…fam support here… Town gon love ya…plus u got a team that can do it—
Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) June 28, 2012

And u got d best owner in all sports…nest practice facility…and a coach that UNDERSTANDS…real dude like urself…trust me homie…—
Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) June 28, 2012

I wouldn't lie to ya…let's get it…..we can win the weastern conference no problem..u 20+.. Dirk20+…when u need a breather…I gotcha—
Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) June 28, 2012

Just finished playing East Hampton Golf Club w/ @RealJasonKidd let the speculation begin?????—
Deron Williams (@DeronWilliams) June 28, 2012

Deron Williams may give the Nets’ new uniforms a try next season. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

On Tuesday, we reported that free-agent point guard Deron Williams had narrowed his list down to two teams (the Brooklyn Nets and the Dallas Mavericks), and that both had publicly wished him a happy 28th birthday on Tuesday.

Now come reports that Williams appears to be leaning toward re-signing with the Nets. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported on Tuesday that five sources told him that that Mavericks “are becoming increasingly worried” that Williams will stay in the Northeast.

On Wednesday, Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reported that Nets coach Avery Johnson was one of only eight or so people who attended an intimate birthday dinner for Williams; that Williams ducked into Nets general manager Billy King’s press conference on Wednesday morning; and that he has been working out almost daily at the Nets’ practice facility.

Sources also tell Broussard that Williams has discussed strategies for next season with Johnson.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported on Saturday night that free agent point guard Deron Williams had narrowed his list to two teams: the incumbent Brooklyn Nets and his hometown Dallas Mavericks.

Perhaps emboldened by this news, both franchises publicly went a-courtin’ Williams on Tuesday, his 28th birthday.

Williams’ wife, Amy, awoke to find a mobile billboard parked outside their Manhattan apartment building. She tweeted a photo to Williams.

Not to be outdone, the Mavericks (or at least the city of Dallas) wished Williams a happy birthday on the scoreboard at the Texas Rangers game, complete with a request: BE A MAVERICK.

Deron Williams will choose between the Mavericks and Nets this free agent period. (Chris Chambers, Getty Images)

Right after LeBron James hoisted his first NBA championship trophy, it appears Deron Williams will have his own decision to make. According to a report from Marc Stein at ESPN, the free agent point guard will choose between his current team the Brooklyn Nets and his hometown Dallas Mavericks after NBA free agency opens on July 1.

The Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers had all expressed interest in acquiring Williams, but Williams reportedly will choose between the myriad marketing opportunities the Nets can offer with their move to metro New York and the comforts of home with the Mavericks.

Even in finances and team building, the teams are in a dead heat – the Nets can offer Williams more money for one year more than Dallas, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has a better track record of building teams that consistently contend for NBA championships.

Williams played 55 games for the Nets in 2011-2012′s lockout-shortened season, putting up below-average numbers on a team that went 22-44, finishing last in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division.

Point guard Jason Kidd, an unrestricted free agent this summer, would like to return to the Dallas Mavericks, but is also interested in signing with the Brooklyn Nets, according to tweets from media members about his comments this afternoon.

Jason Kidd said he would be fine returning to play for the #Mavs with just a one-year contract.

—
Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) June 18, 2012

Jason Kidd said he is definitely look at Brooklyn as a viable option but said he wants to return to the #mavericks

—
gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) June 18, 2012

Asked J Kidd about free agency, he said its early but brought up two teams -- Mavs and Nets. On Nets, re-signing Deron "is the key."

—
Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) June 18, 2012

J Kidd - "My days of playing 38 minutes are over. ...me and Deron can play off each other."

—
Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) June 18, 2012

As reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, Kidd seems intrigued by the idea of playing with fellow free agent point guard Deron Williams.

Williams played for the Nets last season, and various reports have pointed to his displeasure that the team has failed to land center Dwight Howard in a trade. Williams is also a Texas native, leading some to believe he would strongly consider the Mavericks.

The 39-year-old Kidd averaged career lows with 6.2 points and 5.5 assists per game this season. Reports have also said that the Chicago Bulls are interested in signing Kidd as a temporary solution to Derrick Rose’s ACL injury. Rose is likely to miss most of next season.

Williams doesn’t sound optimistic that he could end up a Laker. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

In Los Angeles to promote the new video game NBA Baller Beats, free agent point guard Deron Williams, late of the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets, told members of the media that he is keeping all his options open, but he recognizes that his ending up with the Lakers is a long shot.

“I know they don’t have any money to just go out and sign me,” Williams said, according to Mark Medina of the L.A. Times. “It’ll have to be some kind of deal.”

Point guard has been L.A.’s Achilles heel for a couple of years now, and the Lakers made a play for Chris Paul last fall, only to be rebuffed by the NBA. With Lamar Odom and his sizable contract already gone, the only assets L.A. has to shop are center Andrew Bynum and power forward Pau Gasol. Medina writes that multiple reports have indicated that a Gasol-Williams swap is unrealistic; meanwhile, it’s unclear if Bynum — who is a New Jersey native — is part of the Lakers’ long-term plans or might be available.

The Dallas Mavericks could be looking to add shot-blocking center Roy Hibbert this offseason. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Dallas Mavericks missed center Tyson Chandler this year, and the team will reportedly look to fix the lack of a shot-blocking man in the middle by going after Indiana Pacers’ center Roy Hibbert in free agency.

DallasBasketball.com’s Mike Fisher reports that the Mavericks will look to target Hibbert as their second target after New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams.

There’s one catch: Hibbert is a restricted free agent, so the Pacers can match any offer for their 25-year-old, All-Star center. And they will likely do so with with only about $51.6 million in committed 2012-13 salaries. Hibbert broke out in 2011-12, averaging 12.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

The Mavericks sorely missed Chandler in the middle of their lineup this year, as the Mavs opted not to re-sign him after he helped them to an NBA title last year. Chandler averaged nearly a double-double with the Mavericks in their title-winning season.

Fisher reports that the Mavericks’ “Plan A” remains going after Williams, who is a Dallas native.

For comparison’s sake, the Los Angeles Clippers matched a $43 million offer sheet from the Golden State Warriors for DeAndre Jordan last offseason. Hibbert figures to see an even bigger contract than Jordan.

The Phoenix Suns plan to make a run at Deron Williams if Steve Nash leaves in the off-season. (Chris Chambers, Getty Images)

As the Brooklyn Nets await word on whether star point guard Deron Williams will stay with the newly-relocated franchise, the New York Daily News reports that Williams will be tempted to head westward by the Phoenix Suns.

According to the report, Williams would become a primary free agent target for the Suns if Steve Nash elects to leave the desert for the New York Knicks or a return to his native country with the Toronto Raptors. Williams has also long been a target for the Dallas Mavericks, who have long had Williams on their radar as an ideal free agent pickup.

However, the Suns are prepared to roll out the red carpet for Williams, according to the unnamed source quoted in the report.

“If they lose Steve, then they plan to go after Deron, hard,” said a person with knowledge of the Suns’ plans. “They know he loves golf and they’re going to try to sell him on going out there.”

The Suns are coming off a 33-33 season but are stocked with young talent – Nash, Grant Hill and Michael Redd are the only players over the age of 30 on their roster.

Deron Williams, the Nets franchise point guard, reportedly wants out of Brooklyn unless the team trades for Orlando’s Dwight Howard this summer. (Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

Deron Williams, the Brooklyn Nets franchise point guard, will reportedly leave the team and not even a 7.5-percent chance of drafting Anthony Davis, the Kentucky Wildcats star widely regarded as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, can stop him, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday morning:

All-Star point guard Deron Williams has made one decision about his free agency: If the Brooklyn Nets win the No. 1 pick in the NBA’s draft lottery on Wednesday night – and the chance to secure Kentucky center Anthony Davis – it won’t be enough for Williams to sign a contract extension, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

“It’s Dwight Howard or bust,” said a league source who has spoken to Williams.

Williams doesn’t want to stay with the Nets unless they become an instant Eastern Conference contender and wouldn’t accept waiting for Davis’ development.

Wojnarowski also reported that the Nets would cater to Williams’ wishes to win now and would be willing to trade the draft rights to Davis, if in fact they are lucky enough to acquire such rights, for Orlando’s Dwight Howard. Wojnarowski said the league source confirmed that Howard regrets forgoing the early termination option on his contact next season and wants a trade before next season gets underway, and that a deal could be put in place to send Howard to the Nets once the Magic name a new general manager.

But Williams tweeted Wednesday afternoon that he wants to know who Wojnarowski’s source is in the hopes of helping him make a decision.

I would love to know who Adrian Wojnarowski source is bc he knows more about what I'm thinking then I do😏 maybe they can help me decide?—
Deron Williams (@DeronWilliams) May 30, 2012

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban jabbed back at New Jersey Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov who this week jokingly told reporters that he would “crush” Cuban if the Mavericks were to woo Deron Williams away from the Nets in free-agency.

“He obviously didn’t see me be the first in WWE history to put Sheamus on the mat,” Cuban told ESPN. “He knows not what he gets himself into.”

Cuban’s comments were in reference to his 2009 guest appearance on WWE’s Monday Night Raw.

“Let the best man win,”  Prokhorov had originally jested when asked if he was concerned about the Mavericks attempting to sign Williams. “If he wins, I will crush him in a kickboxing throwdown.”

Williams, an All-star point guard, is averaging 21.3 points and 8.6 assists per contest.

New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams is upset about the backlash he has received on social networks for his decision to become a free-agent following this season, according to Yahoo! Sports.

“People get traded all the time,” Williams told Yahoo! Sports. “They don’t get backlash as an organization. If [players] leave, we are not loyal, we are ungrateful. People say stuff to me on Twitter. They already think I’m gone. They are out there bashing me, saying to me I’m a traitor.

“I didn’t ask to be here. I got traded. I didn’t come here being a free agent. This is the first time that I’m a free agent in my career.”

Williams chose not to sign a long-term contract extension with the Nets prior to this season because under the new collective bargaining agreement, he would be able to make a great deal more money if he were to sign with them after the 2011-12 campaign. At the time, he expressed to Nets fans that his decision was about dollars and cents, but he still will have the ability to speak with other teams when he hits the open market.

The Nets were expected to be major players to either trade for, or sign Dwight Howard by this offseason, however some have speculated that with Howard agreeing to stay at least one more year in Orlando, Williams may look to go elsewhere.

Through 49 games this season the 27-year-old is averaging 21.6 points and 8.6 assists per game.

Dwight Howard decided to “opt in” yesterday, waiving his early termination option and announcing his intent to stay with the Orlando Magic for another season. As for Deron Williams, the New Jersey Nets guard rumored to be teaming up with Howard next season, there’s no intention of following suit.

Deron Williams tells the Daily News: "I will not op-in. Its not monkey see, monkey do."

—
Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) March 16, 2012

Like Howard, Williams has an expiring contract this year — he’s making $16.4 million with the Nets this season, and he has an opt-out clause that would leave $17.8 mil on the table for next year. There’s been widespread speculation that Williams will leave this summer, quite possibly to the Dallas Mavericks.

Williams has now made it known that he’ll definitely be a free agent come July 1. Whether he decides to stay with the Nets then or jump ship remains to be seen.

Williams also told the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy that the next place he plays is where he wants to retire. (Wherever that is.)

The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching, and the dominoes are… well, not falling. Not only is Dwight Howard staying put in Orlando, but now ESPN’s Marc Stein says that the New Jersey Nets “absolutely, positively will not move Deron Williams.” In fact, they’ve already rejected the L.A. Lakers’ offer of Pau Gasol for D-Will straight up.

Sources told Stein that the Lakers offered Gasol to the Nets for Williams back in December and were rejected. If they make another offer in the next two hours, they will again be turned down.

Stein reports that while the Nets remain active at the deadline, it’s not to acquire a superstar right away — it’s to stockpile smaller trade assets in preparation for making a run at a star around draft time, just before Williams hits free agency on July 1.

Williams is averaging a career high of 22.0 points per game this season, plus 8.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds, in the final year of his contract with the Nets. It’s been widely speculated that he’s eyeing a potential move to the Dallas Mavericks this summer in free agency.

New Jersey Nets head coach Avery Johnson views Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks as a potential threat to sign-away point guard Deron Williams this offseason, according to ESPN Dallas.

“He’s a threat, OK?” Johnson said of Cuban. “I know the guy. I think because of the success he’s had — and I know he got criticized a lot for quote-unquote having all those years where he didn’t win a championship — but he’s had some great success here that rivals any situation. So that’s a threat.”

Williams chose not to sign a long-term contract extension with the Nets prior to this season because under the new collective bargaining agreement, he would be able to make a great deal more money if he were to sign with them after the 2011-12 campaign. At the time, he expressed to Nets fans that his decision was about dollars and cents, but he still will have the ability to speak with other teams when he becomes a free-agent.

The Mavericks have fixed their financial affairs to be major players this offseason, potentially allowing them to go out and sign All-Stars Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, or both.

Johnson served as the Mavericks head coach from 2004-08. In 2005-06 he helped lead the Mavericks to a Western Conference championship, and was named the NBA Coach of the Year.

When asked about the Jeremy Lin phenomenon in New York, New Jersey Nets star Deron Williams responded to the New York Daily News, “What phenomenon?”

“Why would we get excited about the Knicks? We’re 8-21, I’m worried about us, not what Jeremy Lin’s doing,” Williams told the paper. Lin’s sensation started two weeks ago after the 23-year-old scored 25 points against Williams in his first career start.

This season Williams has been averaging 20.9 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. Through his career he has earned 17.4 points, 9.2 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, per game.

The Nets 8-21-0 will face the Memphis Grizzlies 15-14-0 tonight.

The New Jersey Nets remain one of the frontrunners, along with Los Angeles and Dallas, to land Dwight Howard in 2012, either through a trade or via free agency this summer. And if they’re looking for a leg up on the competition, ESPN’s Ric Bucher has an idea.

“My understanding is that Stephen Jackson and Dwight Howard have talked several times about playing together,” Bucher said tonight. “They would love to do so with the Nets with Deron Williams as the point guard setting them up. If the Nets want to improve their chances of getting Dwight Howard, making a deal for Stephen Jackson … should be on their menu.”

Jackson is still under contract with the Milwaukee Bucks for another season — he’s due to make over $10 million in 2012-13. But if the Nets are able to make a deal for Jackson before the trade deadline, they may be able to build around the trio of Jackson, Howard and Williams this summer.

The Nets are currently 7-14, 11th in the Eastern Conference. Williams leads the team with 19.6 points and 8.5 assists per game.

All-Star point guard Deron Williams has a short list of teams he would like to end up with if a long-term deal doesn’t work out with the Nets, according to ESPN New York.

Williams’ list reportedly includes the Dallas Mavericks, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers. He is set to become a free agent following this season.

Although Williams has publicly talked about his desire to stay with the Nets, his future with the team has a lot to do with whether or not the club is able to surround him with impact players like Dwight Howard. Sources have told ESPN that if the Nets cannot get Howard, Williams will likely go somewhere else.

Williams is averaging 18.4 points, 8.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds this season. Over the course of his career he has averaged 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds.

Deron Williams, who notably did not sign a contract extension with the New Jersey Nets prior to this NBA season, is frustrated with the New Jersey Nets’ losing ways, according to the New York Daily News.

“Definitely frustrated. Frustrated with how I’m playing. I’m not helping this team at all. Hoping this gets turned around and we get some wins,” Williams told the Daily News, adding, “it’s our fourth in a row. It just keeps building up. I’m playing bad.”

“We avoided a slow start,” Williams said. “But then we finished bad, so we just need a full 48 minutes of basketball. We’re not getting it. I don’t know if we’ve ever shot over 40 percent in a game. We’re just not getting any easy looks, any easy baskets. We’re missing a lot of easy ones too.”

New Jersey is now 1-4 after winning their first game of the season in Washington. Williams currently leads the team in both points and assists.

The Nets acquired Williams last season from the Utah Jazz to be the foundation of their most recent rebuilding process. The club has indicated their interest in acquiring other major pieces from around the league to, but as of now has not been able to supply Williams with any support.

Williams surprised some this winter when he said that he would wait until he was a free-agent next offseason to sign a long-term deal with New Jersey. Williams’ agent has insisted, however, that his client did so as a result of the new collective bargaining agreement, not because of an interest in leaving the Nets.

In the weeks prior to the 2010-11 NBA season, it looked as if New Jersey Nets All-Star point guard Deron Williams would gain a partnering force in Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. Now, two games into the season, Williams not only does not have Howard as a partner in crime in New Jersey, but he is also without injured star center Brook Lopez.

“We need some more pieces,” Williams told the New York Times. “There’s no secret about that. There’s not many starters on our team right now. We have a lot of great role players, a lot of guys who know their job, but in this league you need some top-tier guys so you can get the job done.”

The Nets acquired Williams last season from the Utah Jazz to be the foundation of their most recent rebuilding process. The club has indicated their interest in acquiring other major pieces from around the league to, but as of now has not been able to supply Williams with any support.

New Jersey is now 1-1 on the young NBA season.

Update – 9:26 AM: The Portland Trail Blazers have emerged as a potential trade partner with the Magic and Nets in a deal that would send Howard to New Jersey, according to a tweet from ESPN’s Marc Stein. According to Stein, the deal would potentially send Blazers forward Gerald Wallace along with Nets center Brook Lopez to Orlando.

Original – 9:16 AM: The New Jersey Nets are currently trying to compile a four-team trade that would help them acquire superstar center Dwight Howard, sources have told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

While the exact teams and players involved within the framework of the deal are unclear, Yahoo! Sports reports that the core of the trade would involve shipping Nets center Brook Lopez and one other major piece from an outside team to Orlando in return for Howard and forward Hedo Turkoglu. The Nets, who acquired superstar point guard Deron Williams via trade last season, are looking to assemble a team that can help them claim their first winning record since the 2005-06 season.

The Magic, however, are still uncertain on when and to where they will trade Howard. The three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has had a rocky relationship with the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2004 over the past few months. It was reported that Howard had demanded a trade to the Nets at the onset of training camp, however more recent reports indicate that he may be willing to stay in Orlando if the club can convince him that they can build a championship team. While the latest rumors indicate that Howard has not rescinded his trade request, some within the organization have expressed optimism about still being able to keep Howard in a Magic uniform with a long-term deal.

The Magic front office has also reportedly spoken with the Los Angeles Lakers about a potential deal for Howard.

Last season, the five-time All-Star averaged 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. It is believed he will become a free agent next offseason through an opt-out clause in his contract.

Deron Williams says that despite recent reports that his agent told the New Jersey Nets that he would not sign a contract extension with the team, he still may return to the club as a free-agent following this season.

“Don’t know why people are tripping just bc I’m opting out doesn’t mean that I won’t resign (sic) with the nets! w/ new CBA it makes sense,” Williams tweeted this afternoon.

Williams, 27, stands to make more money as a free-agent this coming offseason under the new collective bargaining agreement than he could with a contract extension with New Jersey right now.

“Deron will not be signing the extension,” Jeff Schwartz, Williams’ agent told The Record this afternoon. “Based on the new rules it doesn’t make any sense for him to sign the extension. It has nothing to do with how much he likes New Jersey. Because of the rules, he’s going to play the season out and opt out of his deal.”

Williams was acquired by the Nets in a trade with Utah Jazz last February. The 27-year-old appeared in 12 games for the Nets and averaged 15 points per game before suffering a wrist injury that required season-ending surgery.

Deron Williams will not sign a contract extension with the New Jersey Nets and will play the year out with the intention of becoming a free-agent, according to Al Iannazzone of The Record.

“Deron will not be signing the extension,” Jeff Schwartz, Williams’ agent told The Record this afternoon. “Based on the new rules it doesn’t make any sense for him to sign the extension. It has nothing to do with how much he likes New Jersey. Because of the rules, he’s going to play the season out and opt out of his deal.”

Williams was acquired by the Nets in a trade with Utah Jazz last February. The 27-year-old appeared in 12 games for the Nets and averaged 15 points per game before suffering a wrist injury that required season-ending surgery.

During the lockout, Williams signed with Turkish Basketball League Besiktas; the contract allowed Williams to return to the NBA when the labor dispute ended. The former first round pick has played in 451 career games and has averaged 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Deron Williams played in just a handful of games for his Turkish team Besiktas before the NBA lockout ended, however that didn’t stop the team from immortalizing the New Jersey Nets point guard by retiring his number.

Williams most memorable moment overseas came when he helped his team to a 105-94 victory over Gottingen, when he scored 50 points in one of his last games with the Turkish squad. The NBA All-Star averaged just over 20 points and 6.8 assists per game during his time in Turkey.

In July, Williams became the first major star to sign with a foreign team as a result of the NBA lockout, which ended over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is believed Williams was making approximately $200,000 per month.