First thing is first, there have been no confirmed reports of a Deron Williams trade request or conversations about the idea from the Brooklyn Nets. However, 'tis the season of speculation. The NBA offseason is just over a month away and with the NBA Draft lottery complete, every player is having their names tossed around in potential packages. Williams is an easy target and could have plenty of teams calling Brooklyn to determine his price.
All Williams had to say was that he was frustrated. He made no notion that he was frustrated with the team, but more so in himself and the way he played. When healthy, the point guard is one of the best in the league, but that rarely happens thanks to two troublesome ankles that could require surgery once again. Williams underwent all kinds of treatment before and during the 2013-14 season and yet nothing proved effective. If Brooklyn thinks Williams might never be fully healthy again, they could strike a deal and several teams will bite.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the Lakers could be a leading contender to try and trade for Williams. With Steve Nash on his last leg, Los Angeles is looking to acquire a star player to pair with Kobe Bryant for his final seasons. With the Kevin Love race heating up, Williams becomes another option.
However, a deal will be hard to come by for the Lakers. Theoretically, it is doable from a financial standpoint. Williams is owed $19.8 million next season. With three players on the books, Los Angeles has $25 million to work with. They could take on the point guard's contract without any issues except for renouncing the rights to Kendall Marshall. The move would also get the Nets under the luxury tax threshold, but is that enough.
The Lakers are officially armed with the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft thanks to going 27-55 last season. Other than that, they have nothing to offer Brooklyn. The Lakers lack the assets to acquire a player like Williams or Love for that matter. The Nets would love to have the first-round pick in this year's draft, but they also would want a player in return and the Lakers cannot offer that.
AM New York suggests the Knicks become a frontrunner for Williams. With Raymond Felton getting traded sooner rather than later, the newspaper writes New York should target the Nets point guard whether Carmelo Anthony returns or not. The Knicks could offer up players like Amar'e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert, but that likely will not be enough because Brooklyn will want a draft pick, something the Knicks do not have.
All of this speculation will likely lead to nowhere. Williams is the franchise star and while nothing should be put past their millionaire owner, the Nets seem unwilling to let him go. However, expect rumors to continue to swirl around the veteran until Game 1 of the 2014 season.
