When healthy, Deron Williams is easily one of the best point guards in the NBA. However, he is rarely healthy which is becoming an issue for Brooklyn. For the second-straight season, the Nets failed to meet the high expectations set upon them and now roster adjustments must be made in order to improve. While Williams is considered a crucial piece of the roster, injuries could force a trade in the offseason.
Williams has been plagued by ankle injuries throughout his entire career. His success when healthy is what has been keeping his stock so high. However, the point guard is preparing to undergo an MRI and according to ESPN, Williams might need surgery on both ankles in the offseason which is something that is frustrating him.
"I think so. I think it is," Williams said, via ESPN.com. "Just to clean [stuff out], it's nothing major." "I feel like I've kind of let people down, so I don't like feeling like that. I take my job seriously, I work hard in the offseason, I work hard every day. It's just real frustrating not to be able to play how I'm capable of playing."
Williams said he is going to focus on his health in the offseason in order to return as the All-Star point guard everyone knows him to be. He attempted that last year, but a preseason rolling of the ankles caused a setback. Williams turns 30 this offseason and struggled in most of the playoff games. His ankles are not getting any better and might force Brooklyn to make a move.
According to Howard Beck of Bleacher Report, a trade of Williams should not be ruled out especially if Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett opt to go elsewhere. Williams has $63 million remaining on his contract which makes a deal nearly impossible to put together, but there might be some interest. Last December, the Houston Rockets were interested in acquiring him in a deal that would have likely sent Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik to Brooklyn, but nothing was ever finalized.
The Nets front office is insisting that the core group will likely return next season even though more is up in the air than they are letting on. Pierce is a free agent and Williams was one of the reasons he agreed to a Brooklyn deal. If Williams is not healthy, the veteran could opt to sign elsewhere. Garnett looks more and more like he is retiring. Brook Lopez missed the entire last season, but getting him back could be key for the Nets. The roster is old and while Brooklyn could still see a championship with everyone back, their timetable is very shot.