When the New Jersey Nets traded for Deron Williams, he was meant to be the centerpiece of a franchise building for the future. Back then, there were regular debates on whether he or Chris Paul would be the point guard of the future. Williams’ size, athleticism, and shooting were all attributes that gave him the edge over Paul.
But since his five-year, $98 million contract extension, Williams hasn’t been the same player. He has struggled with significant injuries to his ankles, which have sapped him of the athleticism he once had. Once a consecutive five-time All-Star, Williams hasn’t made the All-Star team since 2012.
Williams will still be on the Nets’ payroll for the next two seasons (he has an early termination option in 2016 that he is unlikely to exercise), but he is already starting to be a liability for the team.
The Nets only managed to squeeze into the final playoffs spot, but it wasn’t due to Williams’ contributions. The team has thrived when their offense revolves around center Brook Lopez, and on the other hand, Williams’ play has drawn huge criticism from fans and analysts.
Averaging 13.0 points, 6.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game this season, this was Williams’ worst season since his rookie year. He started 55 games this season – the lowest since his rookie season, and had the worst shooting averages of his career (38.7 percent from the field).
His scoring has been dropping since the Nets renamed themselves, and the Williams we see on the court nowadays is no longer recognizable from the one in New Jersey.
With his injuries, Williams has clearly lost a step (or two), but that wouldn’t be a problem if he were still able to shoot accurately. However, his shooting has also deteriorated, and his effective field goal percentage is at a career low 44.3 percent this season.
At 30 years old, Williams is considered a veteran in the league. He was tasked with leading the franchise, both on the court and off the court. For a long time, Williams was the Nets’ biggest name, and their playoff contention hopes hung on his shoulders.
But in a recent interview that Paul Pierce conducted with ESPN, he had some damning things to say regarding Williams’ attitude towards the game:
“Before I got there, I looked at Deron as an MVP candidate. But I felt once we got there, that’s not what he wanted to be. He just didn’t want that.”
Pierce’s comments painted a very ugly picture of Williams. Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez were meant to be the Big Three in Brooklyn, while Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded to be complimentary pieces on the team, providing championship experience. However, Garnett and Pierce ended up being the driving force behind the team, as Williams and Johnson faded terribly.
It’s hard to say where Williams’ career goes from here. We’ve heard countless times that he was ready to bounce back from his ankle injuries, only to be left disappointed. At a $19.8 million salary for this season, Williams is the second-highest paid point guard behind Chris Paul.
But in terms of productivity on the court, it’s safe to say that he belongs in the bottom 15 of starting point guards in the league. And it is unlikely that we will see anything close to prime-Williams again.
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