Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams may be opting out of his contract at the end of the 2011-12 season, but no need to worry. Williams doesn’t plan on leaving.
“My plan is to stay,” Williams said during an interview with WFAN radio Monday. “Hopefully we get some good talent in here to where I can stay.”
Williams estimated that his chances of staying are “90 percent.”
Williams seemed to dispel any rumors of joining Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire with the New York Knicks.
“That would be very unlikely,” Williams said.
The Nets could be armed with $22 million to $23 million in cap space if they use the amnesty clause to cut Travis Outlaw and the remaining four years and $28 million on his contract, and renounce Kris Humphries’ $6 million cap hold. The club is pursuing a bevy of free agents in an attempt to surround Williams with top-notch talent. Nene, Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler, sources told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein and ESPNDallas.com’s Jeff Caplan, are expected to visit the team’s practice facility this week.
Sources also told Stein that the Nets are preparing a blockbuster trade offer in an effort to land Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. In the proposal, the Nets would sent Brook Lopez and two future first-round picks to Orlando in exchange for Howard and the remaining three years and $35 million on Hedo Turkoglu’s contract.
Williams called Howard “the most dominant big man in the NBA” and said if there’s one player in the entire league he’d like to play with, it’s “D-12”. The two talk frequently, Williams said, but he wouldn’t get into any speculation about a potential pairing. Howard also can opt out of his contract, and the Magic are weighing their options with regard to trading him or potentially losing him for nothing at the end of the season.
“I think if you’re a point guard and you could play with D-12 and you leave, you’re not very smart,” Williams said.
Williams also seemed to dispel any rumors of he and Howard joining forces in Los Angeles.
“I don’t think there’s any way that can work out,” he said.
The 28-year-old Williams reiterated the Nets’ need for a center to play alongside the 23-year-old Lopez in the frontcourt. Nene and Chandler would both fit that bill. A league source told ESPNNewYork.com that there’s “a good chance” that the Nets land one of the two.
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WRITTEN BY Mike Mazzeo is a frequent contributor to ESPNNewYork.com & FULL STORY HERE