Deron Williams Injury: What Now For The Nets?
By Adam McGee
Between trade rumors and his recent appearances from the bench it only seemed like a matter of time before we’d have some sort of Deron Williams news, but Deron Williams injury news isn’t exactly what Brooklyn Nets fans have been hoping for.
On Thursday morning, the Nets released a statement on their website entitled “Deron Williams Medical Update”. Following a summer which saw Williams undergo surgery on both of his ankles, it was almost a reflex to expect to read about further complications in that regard, but instead it was a fresh injury.
According to the team, their 30-year-old point guard has been diagnosed with “a fracture of the cartilage portion of the left 12th rib.”
The statement continued with Brooklyn’s medical director Dr. Riley Williams III giving some more background to the injury and how it was discovered:
"“Deron reported some soreness above this area over the weekend and as a result underwent imaging studies on Monday, which were negative. Yesterday during the game he reported a new onset of symptoms below the prior area of soreness. New imaging studies done today demonstrated the fracture. There is no timetable for his return. He will be re-assessed in one week.”"
Although Williams will be re-assessed in a week, that’s not in any way indicative of a speedy return. Rib injuries are notorious for having a lingering effect, as they aren’t necessarily easy to rest up.
Unlike many other bone fractures, the ribs can’t be restricted completely due to the role they play in breathing. Williams’ fracture could be even more complex too, due to the 12th rib being what’s known as a “floating” rib. With that rib unattached as such, it’s much more delicate, and when damaged can also affect the kidneys, liver or spleen.
In other words, it’s in the Nets’ interest to tread with care when it comes to Williams’ recovery. Whether they plan on trading him or keeping him, it seems pretty certain that it’s not in Brooklyn’s best interest to have a $20 million per year player carrying an ever-growing injury history.
Brooklyn will have to soldier on without him though, and in his absence, they may learn a little more about their team. The Brooklyn Nets have been the ultimate example of inconsistency this season, and at this stage it almost seems like a little bit of a stretch to expect that to change very much.
At times this season, the Nets have done well without Williams available, as well as when he was coming off the bench. In particular, Jarrett Jack has shown flashes of good play (as I wrote about a couple of weeks ago), but overall without Williams, the stats aren’t too pretty for the Nets.
It just takes a quick look at Brooklyn’s on/off numbers to realize that Williams is still the heartbeat of Brooklyn’s offense, or maybe more accurately, the Nets don’t have a lot in terms of creation behind him.
Brooklyn are 4.7 points per game worse off without Williams on the floor, while their assists (-2.6), three-point shooting (-2.9 percent) and turnovers (+2.9) also work against them without their star point guard.
If Williams’ injury proves to be on the wrong end of the scales when it comes to rib injuries, then there’s every possibility that the Nets may not have him back before the All-Star break. If that was to transpire there’s no knowing just where it would leave Brooklyn in an ever-tightening Eastern playoff race.
If the worse comes to the worst and the Nets are placed ninth or tenth upon his return, would there be any reason for Brooklyn to NOT completely break things up? Sure they have the prospect of being forced to swap picks with Atlanta this year hanging over their heads, but in reality, Brooklyn’s problems are much more significant than that.
Just like Deron Williams’ rib, unfortunately for Brooklyn, they’re not going to be healed overnight.