Mavericks Rumors: Deron Williams Leaning Towards Opt-Out
Dallas Mavericks rumors are heating up, as it looks like point guard Deron Williams will now opt out to try landing a multi-year deal in free agency.
Dallas Mavericks rumors will begin to heat up now that their season is over, as the Oklahoma City Thunder eliminated them from the postseason. Injuries really hampered the Mavericks this season, so they will be looking to augment the roster and make a final run with Dirk Nowitzki, who is nearing the end of his career. Will they be able to re-make the roster once again this offseason?
They look like they will have the money to do so. Chandler Parsons is expected to opt out and become a free agent, opening up some money for the Mavericks to use. They would like to bring him back, but there will be a number of suitors for his services. Could he be joined on the free agent market by a teammate?
It certainly seems so, as the Mavericks could also be in the market for a new point guard. This season’s starting point guard, Deron Williams, is expected to turn down his player option worth $5.6 million to hit the open market with hopes of landing a long-term deal. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Tom MacMahon. But, MacMahon adds this doesn’t necessarily mean that Williams be gone next season, as the two sides have mutual interest in working out a deal.
When the Mavericks were eliminated from the postseason, Williams voiced his eagerness in returning to Dallas to play again next season. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle also said that he would like to have Williams back, and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Williams looked to have a newfound sense of enthusiasm returning home to play this past season.
Willams signed with the Mavericks last offseason after agreeing to a buyout with the Brooklyn Nets. Williams’ tenure with the Nets never developed as either side had hoped, as Williams battled a litany of injuries, and the Nets didn’t have the success they thought that they would on the court.
Despite looking like a different player as Nelson said, Williams was very much the same player as he was with the Nets, just without an exorbitant contract. Williams battled injuries throughout the season again, appearing in 63 regular season games.
He will probably need offseason surgery as well to deal with a sports hernia. His stats were also similar, as he averaged 14.1 points, 5.8 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game, after averaging 13 points, 6.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 2014-15 and 14.3 points, 6.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 2013-14.
Despite that, there are people that believe that Williams will cash in this offseason. There aren’t many point guard options available, as there is a gap after Mike Conley and Rajon Rondo. That, along with the increasing cap, has some people, such as Tim Bontempts of The Washington Post believing that Williams will double his salary for next season.
If the Mavericks want to retain Williams’ services for next season and beyond, it will probably cost them more than his player option would have. The Mavs will have a tough decision to make, as Williams is clearly not the player that he once was, but they could find it difficult to upgrade unless they want to throw a boatload of money at someone such as Conley.
Next: 2015 NBA Draft: Re-Drafting The Top-10
Whatever the Mavericks decide to do in free agency with the point guard position, it is an area that they could consider in the NBA Draft to try and find a building block and point guard of the future once Williams, Raymond Felton and Devin Harris are gone.