NBA Trade Rumors: Utah Jazz Interested In Re-Acquiring Deron Williams

According to an ESPN report, the Utah Jazz have expresed interest in re-acquiring Deron Williams from the Dallas Mavericks.

According to a report from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Utah Jazz are interested in re-acquiring veteran point guard Deron Williams from the Dallas Mavericks.

Williams was a member of the Jazz for five and a half seasons after being drafted by the franchise with the third overall pick in 2005. He played 459 games for Utah, averaging 17.3 points and 9.1 assists on 56 percent shooting from the field.

He, along with a core that featured Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap, and Kyle Korver, led the team to four consecutive playoff appearances between 2006-10, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals which resulted in a 4-1 loss to San Antonio in 2007.

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Williams led the team in assists during each of his five seasons with the franchise, while also leading the team in scoring for the 2008-09 and 2010-11 campaigns.

He currently sits fourth on the team’s all-time assist leaders list with 4,003, and also features in the top 10 for points, minutes played, three-pointers made, offensive rating and win shares for the team.

MacMahon says no deal is imminent, but Dallas is open to moving Williams. The report also explains that no trade will go ahead without Williams’ consent.

"“Williams can’t be traded without consent, thanks to his one-year, $9 million deal with the Mavericks after playing the previous season in Dallas, because they 32-year-old would have to forfeit his free-agent bird rights if dealt to another team.”"

Williams was traded to the then New Jersey Nets in a trade deadline deal in 2011 for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, cash and two first round draft picks, one of which was used to select Enes Kanter. D-Will spent five seasons with the Nets, and was named an All-Star twice during his time there. However, the Nets were unable to have any real success, making the playoffs three times and only making it past the first round once.

Williams signed with the Mavericks in 2015 after being waived by Brooklyn and is currently in his second season with the team, averaging 13.1 points and 6.9 assists on 43 percent shooting in 40 games this year.

The Mavericks are at present, sitting in the 12th spot in the Western Conference with a 22-34 record. With the ESPN report saying the Mavs are open to trading both Williams and center Andrew Bogut, it would appear Dallas is looking toward the future. Williams is made even more expendable with the emergence of D-League sensation Yogi Ferell and the impending return of J.J. Barea to the Mavs lineup.

For the Jazz, they would acquire an offensive-minded guard to back up current starter George Hill. The Jazz currently average 100.2 points per game, placing them 28th in the league. While this is a product of slow-paced, defensive game Utah love to play, they could certainly use a high scoring guard to come off the bench and produce immediate points.

Hill is currently backed up by Dante Exum and Shelvin Mack, both of whom struggle with consistency. Exum certainly brings more to the Jazz defensively, but the experience of Williams offers the Jazz a security blanket if George Hill goes down with an injury again, having only played 32 games so far this season.

It is currently unclear as to what the Jazz would send to the Mavericks as part of any potential deal, but it would be safe to assume a package of young players and/or a pick will suit Dallas.

Next: 2017 NBA Trade Deadline: Grades For All 30 Teams

With just 48 hours until the deadline, it will be interesting to see if any actual deal can be made between Dallas and Utah.