Will Deron Williams’ Turkey stint affect New Jersey Nets and the NBA owners?
New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams’ new agent Jeff Schwartz declared on Thursday that his client will play for Besiktas, a Turkish sports club in the upcoming season, if the National Basketball Association lockout continues.
Williams has signed a $5 million contract with the club for one year.
This makes Williams the first player to find work outside NBA. Moreover Williams’ contract money will be paid by a special sponsor and not by his club.
This is not a good news for the NBA owners, as they were trying to impose a hard salary cap and revenue sharing options through a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Williams is bound by the Nets to report to the camp as early as the work stoppage gets over. For this purpose, a clause was included in Deron’s pact with the Turkish club that he can rejoin New Jersey at any stage if NBA lifts
the lockout on players.
During work stoppage NBA players cannot use their teams’ work out facilities and at the same time cannot contact any office members of their franchise, but they can take their talents to overseas. If the players started following
Williams suit then owners might have to re-think about their decision as it might force them to lift the lockout as soon as possible.
There is highly competitive basketball played around the world and several leagues have shown interest in dragging some of the stars from NBA. Besiktas coach Ergin Ataman has already said that they are close to get Atlanta Hawks
centre Zaza Pachulia.
Besides this the Turkish coach also told that they will look to drag Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant as well, if he showed any interest. Moreover, if the Turkish league were able to find special sponsors like the one they had
for Williams, they will certainly attract several players from NBA.
More than anyone Williams’ decision will affect his own franchise a great deal. One he had a wrist surgery a few months back and he was looking to heal it during off season, but now he has signed the pact with Besiktas, so any
injury during the trip will cost the Nets a lot, since NBA players do not get insurance when they are playing overseas.
Secondly the Nets are willing to sign a contract extension with the veteran guard, but rumour has it that Williams might end his journey with the franchise when he will be able to exercise opt out option. This can be another blow
for New Jersey since they were looking to drag Dwight Howard through Williams, who are close friends.
However, it all remains to be seen, but in order to keep Williams, the Nets should offer him a multi-year deal, which is in their best interest.
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