Nets News of the Day

For the Brooklyn Nets news of the day see below the tweets and comments from the best NBA writers in the business.

The news of the day seemed to be dominated by Deron Williams first interview in Las Vegas where USA Basketball is training

Sheridan Hoops @sheridanhoops – Jan Hubbard

Deron Williams explains why he chose the Nets over the Mavericks
“People close to me know how hard it was to not pick #Dallas . . . I think Mark is a great owner. But I just felt like #Brooklyn the way they were going and willing to spend under this new CBA was a better situation. DWill on getting $98M over five years rather than $75M over four in Dallas. “Money never really factored into my decision. Honestly. The extra year in NY because of the cost of living and taxes and I live in the city so there’s city tax on top of that. It doesn’t end up becoming that much more money. It was just more of a basketball decision. I love Dallas, I was looking forward to going home and living there. It fits more of my lifestyle with four kids. But as far as basketball and the direction [the Nets are] going and they’re willing to spend money. … Swayed me the other way.”
One of the biggest factors in swaying Deron Williams was acquiring Joe Johnson, from Marc J. Spears: “Deron Williams says he was close to choosing Mavs but acquisition of Joe Johnson pushed him to Nets.”
Here is what Williams thinks of himself and Johnson, from Stefan Bondy: “Deron Williams on him and Joe Johnson — “we could have one of the top backcourts in the NBA for sure.”

Nets Daily @netsdaily – NetIncome

Deron Williams confirmed to reporters in Las Vegas Friday that he was closer to signing with the Mavericks than most believed. He was responding to comments made earlier in the day by Jason Kidd on WFAN,

Kidd told WFAN that as of a week ago, Deron Williams had decided to join the Mavericks, but that the Nets’ moves early this week, particularly the trade for Joe Johnson on Tuesday, turned him around and got him “excited” about Brooklyn.

The Nets opened their presentation to Williams Monday with word that they had just completed the deal with Atlanta. Williams had met with the Mavericks early that day as the Nets and Hawks were putting finishing touches on the deal that sent five expiring contracts and a first round pick to Atlanta.

Williams called Brooklyn’s moves a “rejuvenation” opportunity for himself, Gerald Wallace and Johnson. Nets officials long knew Williams would occasionally stray from Brooklyn toward going home to Dallas, but believed all along he would re-sign with them.

New York Post @nydnsports – Stefan Bondy & Frank Isola

Deron Williams, speaking for the first time since agreeing to sign a five-year, $100 million deal, said Friday he walked out of Monday’s meeting with the Mavericks ready to ditch the Nets and sign with Mark Cuban.

But that was before Billy King traded for Joe Johnson – a deal completed just hours before the Nets met with Williams for their final free agency pitch – and Williams said that pushed him toward Brooklyn.

“I was really close to going to Dallas,” Williams said at Team USA training camp. “I actually thought that’s where I was going to go. I had the meetings and it kind of changed my mind because once I got out of the meeting with Dallas and saw the way they way were going and the team they were putting out there and I saw that we just made a trade for Joe Johnson and I felt like that team for a longer time would be the better team.

“Joe got me over the hump,” Williams continued. “I’ve never played with anybody like him, a guy on the wing that can get his own shot and also get me involved and is a great defender. We could one of the top backcourts in the NBA for sure.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/deron-williams-joe-johnson-trade-biggest-factor-decision-remain-nets-article-1.1109389#ixzz1zts3dR00

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