I admit that I've been upset with the whole "Deron and Jerry" thing that happened a few weeks ago and I was disappointed with Deron. I am however saddened to see him go and lose his talent. I also see the stance that the Utah Jazz organization felt like they needed to take. I agree with them that Deron probably would have left once his contract was up and I think his attitude was a cancer to the team. This trade seems to make business sense and will take care of our future as a team. I do think that Jerry leaving was the"straw that broke the camels back" and forced the trade. I do however disagree with the way that the trade was done and think that it shows a lack of class to just boot your All-Star with no notice. Even though Deron has had an obvious bad attitude this season, he has done great things for the Utah Jazz and deserved a "heads up" on the trade. I guess that's business in the NBA though...right?
February has been a rough month for me as a Jazz fan and I look forward to a "clean slate" with March. I am sad about the struggles and changes that we've experienced but I will continue to cheer and hope for the best:) I'm going to miss seeing Deron work his magic as a Jazz man but look forward to a new future team. We shall see....Go Jazz!---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASSIC DERON HIGHLIGHTS
ksl.com - Jazz Rewind: Deron Williams
NEWS CLIPS
ksl.com - Nets introduce Deron; Williams won't talk contract until 2012
ksl.com - Utah Jazz: Harris, Favors introduced to local media
Poll: Most Utahns like the D-Will deal - ksl.com
HERE ARE THE DETAILS ABOUT THE TRADE:
Williams traded to New Jersey
February 23rd, 2011 @ 12:30pm
By ksl.com
SALT LAKE CITY -- After denying early reports that Deron Williams was planning on playing for the New York Knicks for the 2012-13 season, it has been confirmed that the New Jersey Nets have finalized a deal with the Jazz to send the All-Star point guard to the Nets in a multi-player package.
After losing out to Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks, the Nets agreed to a three team trade, sending point guard Devin Harris, rookie Derrick Favors, and two draft picks to the Jazz, with Golden State receiving Troy Murphy in exchange for Dan Gadzuric. | Trade stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age | Points | |
| Deron Williams | 26 | 21.3 |
| Devin Harris | 27 | 15 |
| Derrick Favors | 19 | 6.3 |
"We feel that we've addressed a current need at point guard with Deron's departure, as well as the future with draft picks and a big man," Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor announced. "To do so we had to give up an All-Star, but we feel like this is a win for both sides."
Favors, a rookie out of Georgia Tech, averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds in 56 games this season with the Nets, while Harris averaged 15 points and 8 assists. Harris was an all-star reserve in 2009 when he averaged 21 points and seven assists. Harris played collegiately at Wisconsin. He was drafted fifth overall by the Washington Wizards in 2004 and was promptly traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
He spent four years in Dallas before being traded to New Jersey in 2008.
Favors was the third overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft after just one season with Georgia Tech in which he averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.
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Favors was named ACC Rookie of the Year and to the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2010.
Williams was averaging 21.3 points and 9.7 assists per game with the Jazz this season. In his six seasons with Utah Williams averaged 17.3 points and 9.1 assists. The Jazz have also secured a 2011 draft pick from the Nets and the Warriors 2012 pick, which is protected 1-7. If the Jazz don't make the playoffs this year, they will have two lottery picks in the upcoming draft.
This multi-team deal comes one day after Carmelo Anthony was traded from Denver to the New York Knicks in a three-team deal.
It also comes two weeks after Williams was linked with the departure of Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan, who resigned abruptly in his 23rd season as Jazz coach a day after getting into a heated argument with the team captain.
Related:
Jazz "shocked" by Williams tradeThe Jazz react to the news that their leader and all-star point guard Deron Williams was traded to the new Jersey Nets.
Williams admitted to arguing with Sloan on occasion, but denied that he was the impetus in Sloan's resignation.
Many believed that Williams would opt out of his contract following this season, leaving the Jazz with little to recover from. It is likely that Kevin O'Connor looked at the new player-driven environment of the NBA and wanted to ensure that the Jazz could get something out of a possible Williams departure. Williams was expected to be one of the headliners of the 2012 free agent class along with 2008 Olympic teammates Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, and the small-market Jazz could have faced losing him for nothing.
The Nets now hope Williams will sign a contract extension with them, which they can offer this summer. If so, he would become the face of their franchise when they move into their new arena in Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season.
Jeremiah Jensen via Twitter: While you process the shock of the Deron Williams trade here is a look at what is coming in return
New Jersey has been desperate to make its first score under new Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov. The Nets talked with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh last summer and when that failed they turned their attention to Anthony. They quickly bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on him with Williams.
"Utah traded DWill??" fellow point guard Chris Paul wrote on his Twitter page, adding hashtags with "EpicFail" and "notagoodlook." Williams has already left the team and will not be with the Jazz as they visit the Dallas Mavericks tonight.
Story written by Graydon Johns with contributions from Josh Furlong, Robert Jackson and the Associated Press.
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Nets react to Williams trade
February 23rd, 2011 @ 4:59pm
By Josh Furlong, ksl.com Contributor
SALT LAKE CITY -- With the NBA trade deadline quickly approaching, several big names have been thrown out as possible moves, with teams looking to acquire players like Carmelo Anthony to change the face of their organization.
However, no one really believed that they could acquire an all-star point guard from Utah before the deadline drew near. Early Wednesday morning, the Utah Jazz and the New Jersey Nets agreed to deal all-star point guard Deron Williams to the Nets, with point guard Devin Harris and rookie Derrick Favors to the Jazz.
Related:
Williams traded to New JerseyAfter denying early reports that Deron Williams was planning on playing for the New York Knicks for the 2012-13 season, it has been confirmed that the New Jersey Nets have finalized a deal with the Jazz to send the All-Star point guard to the Nets in a multi-player package.
The bold move on Utah's part came as a shock to the NBA, with a Jazz organization that typically stays out of any big name trade talks. Yet the Jazz took the opportunity to acquire players before potentially losing it all with Williams uncertain about his future in Utah.
"Were we willing to take that risk?" Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said in an afternoon press conference. "Were we willing to go through what Denver went through this year? We would have been if we didn't feel that a deal that would have helped the health of the franchise be in place." The Nets organization, however, is eager for the opportunity to have Williams as a part of their team.
"Rarely are you able to trade for somebody that is one of the top players at their position," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "We know we had to give up a lot to get him, but we felt it was worth it."
After losing out to the Knicks on Carmelo Anthony, Nets general manager Billy King said that he tried to throw out Williams' name to O'Connor, doubting that the trade would come to fruition.
"Rarely are you able to trade for somebody that is one of the top players at their position." - Nets coach Avery Johnson
"We talked a couple of times yesterday," King said. "And then I guess he visited with his ownership. I visited with mine. And this morning we came to an agreement." The news broke around 9 a.m. MST, with Williams finding out about the same time.
"We are very excited to add a player the caliber of Deron Williams to our roster," King said. "He is one of the premier point guards in the NBA, and his skill and talent level will bolster our franchise as we continue to build towards our goal of becoming a championship-caliber team."
Nets fans following the acquisition of Williams are encouraged with how their team was able to pick up a big name before the trade deadline closed in.
"Tremendous deal for the Nets," writes user mason0424. "This guy is a warrior and one of the top point guards in the game. Not getting Melo turned out to be a blessing in disguise as this guy will have us in the playoffs next year."
However, not all fans are on board with the Williams acquisition.
"[T]he guy is a free agent in 2012—if we have no understanding with him about signing long term, it's possible we gave up Harris, Favors and two 1st rounders for nothing," writes NJ.com user pantherbball. "I'm like some others who think that it is way too early to give up on Favors."
Although there is a possibility that Williams may leave the Nets after this season, Billy King believes the risk is worth the possibility.
"I don't look at it as a risk," King said. "I look at it as we can sign him to an extension this summer. And he knows it. We know it. I look at it—I don't think it's a risk. I honestly always felt he was the best point guard in the league, and that's no disrespect to anyone."
The Nets look to make up some ground in the Eastern Conference after a less-than-stellar couple of seasons. With Williams leading the pack, it is possible that this trade may alter the state of the Nets' future for good.
"Deron Williams to the Nets. Great trade for NJ," Magic Johnson tweeted. "That's the face of their franchise."
The Nets will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. ET, just as the trade deadline expires. It will likely be broadcast live online and on YES network.
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Jazz "shocked" by Williams trade
February 23rd, 2011 @ 4:00pm
By Jody Genessy, Deseret News
DALLAS -- It was a word used often hours after the news unfolded, but "shock" might have been an understatement about how the Utah Jazz felt about the franchise's sudden and stunning end of the Deron Williams Era.
In a trade that nobody saw coming, two-time All-Star Williams was shipped off to the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday in exchange for veteran point guard Devin Harris, young power forward Derrick Favors, and two first-round picks (from the Nets in 2011 and the Golden State Warriors in 2012). "Nobody saw it coming. It was crazy." -CJ Miles
The Jazz, according to national reports, will also receive $3 million in cash from the Nets.
"We feel that we've addressed a current need at point guard with Deron's departure, as well as the future with draft picks and a big man," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said. "To do so we had to give up an All-Star, but we feel like this is a win for both sides." That part remains to be seen.
"What it boiled down to, for me anyway, was my gut sense of whether we'd be able to re-sign Deron," Jazz CEO Greg Miller said at an afternoon press conference . "And while I never saw any indication that he wouldn't re-sign with us, I never saw any indication he would re-sign with us."
"I think it's a win-win situation," O'Connor said. "New Jersey wanted a marquee player and a star."
Asked why the Jazz made a move in the middle of their season, Miller said that the organization didn't want to end up like Phoenix or Cleveland.
"All those teams lost their marquee players and had very little to show for it," Miller said.
"Were we willing to take that risk?" O'Connor said. "Were we willing to go through what Denver went through this year? And we would have been if we didn't feel that a deal that would have helped the health of the franchise be in place." The Jazz are still dealing with the aftershock of the biggest trade in franchise history, which comes only two weeks after the sudden resignation of 23-year Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan and longtime assistant Phil Johnson.
Fellow Dallas product C.J. Miles was as dismayed as anyone. The small forward entered the league with Williams in 2005, and the two locker neighbors have formed a strong bond over the years.
Related:
Williams traded to New JerseyThe New Jersey Nets have finalized a deal with the Jazz to send Deron Williams to the Nets in a multi-player deal.
"Nobody saw it coming," Miles said. "It was crazy."
Jazz veteran Raja Bell explained that multiple Jazz players, including Williams, were working out in the team hotel gym together when the news flashed on the TV screen. But they laughed about the blurb that rolled across ESPN's Ticker, thinking it was just a rumor. "I was kind of shocked, a little bit of disbelief as it came across ESPN, just because I was sitting with him in the training room and he didn't know anything about it at the time," Bell said. We kind of chuckled about it, honestly."
Ronnie Price, Paul Millsap and Kyrylo Fesenko were also with the two Jazz guards when the ticker rolled across the screen.
"We kind of had a laugh because those kinds of things come across the ticker all the time," Bell added. "It was obvious at that point that he didn't know. After he made a couple of calls, it was obvious that it was going to go down."
Having been traded a few times during his 11-year career, Bell talked to Williams and offered his verbal support after the news was finalized.
"We kind of had a laugh because those kinds of things come across the ticker all the time. It was obvious at that point that (Williams) didn't know." -Raja Bell
"I told him I know where he's coming from," Bell said. "I know it's a hard pill to swallow. Regardless of what your relationship was with the team or fan base when you get traded, it's still tough."
O'Connor called to inform the Jazz's new coach, Ty Corbin, as the team was getting prepared to leave the hotel for shootaround at American Airlines Arena this morning. The out-of-the-blue deal happened so quickly, O'Connor told Corbin, because the Nets were looking to do something big after their attempts at acquiring ex-Denver star Carmelo Anthony fell through.
"My initial reaction is that I'm going to miss Deron. He was a good player for us," Corbin said following shootaround. "I've been with him his entire time in the NBA as an assistant coach and now as a head coach for a few games.
"He's a great player and he's a good teammate for the guys, and we're going to miss him," Corbin added. "I wish him well as he moves forward, and we'll have to work our way through it."
Miles and Williams spoke briefly as the team got on the bus, and the Jazz's sixth man said he'll give D-Will a call later today.
"There was no way to forecast that this was going to happen," Bell said.
Williams did not attend the Jazz's shootaround, and according to national reports the two incoming players were informed of the trade at the Nets' shootaround Wednesday morning. It's unknown when Harris and Favors will join the Jazz, who leave for Indianapolis after playing the Mavericks in Dallas tonight.
"(William's) a great player and he's a good teammate for the guys, and we're going to miss him." -Tyrone Corbin
In Harris, the Jazz are getting a former All-Star point guard who was taken fifth overall in the 2004 draft — the year prior to Williams' draft — by the Washington Wizards. The 28-year-old Wisconsin product averaged 15.0 points and 7.6 assists for the Nets this season.
The 6-3, 190-pound Harris has played for Dallas and the Nets during his seven-year career, averaging 13.2 points, 5.0 assists and 1.2 steals. The 19-year-old Favors, who was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2010 draft, gives the Jazz more depth at the power forward spot. The 6-10, 246-pounder has averaged 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds his rookie season for the Nets.
The Nets, meanwhile, will get forwards Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric from Golden State in exchange for Troy Murphy.
This deal comes a few days after Yahoo.com reported that a friend of Williams' declared that he would be interested in playing for the New York Knicks when his contract expires after the 2011-12 season. Williams denied the rumor during the All-Star Break.
It also comes two weeks after Williams was linked with the departure of Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan, who resigned abruptly in his 23rd season as Jazz coach a day after getting into a heated argument with the team captain.
Williams admitted to arguing with Sloan on occasion, but denied that he was the impetus in Sloan's resignation.
More information will be posted as it comes along.
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SALT LAKE CITY -- So what do Jazz fans think about the Deron Williams trade? Dan Jones and Associates conducted a flash poll for KSL and the Deseret News Wednesday night to find out.
The results show 70 percent of Utahns say the Jazz made the right choice in dealing Deron to the New Jersey Nets, while 17 percent say it wasn't the right choice. Sixty-one percent say small markets like Utah can compete against larger market teams for star players; 33 percent say the Jazz can't keep star players from heading to brighter lights and bigger cities.
Sixty-four percent of those polled think the Williams trade was related to longtime coach Jerry Sloan's resignation, while 29 percent say it wasn't a factor.
KSL's Rod Zundel talked with Jerry Sloan Wednesday, who was at his farm in southern Illinois. His only comment was, "Go Jazz."
CLICK HERE for more results from our poll.
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Forever Strong, Jerry Sloan
February 20th, 2011 @ 10:08pm
By SportsBeat and ksl.com
SALT LAKE CITY - Eleven days ago life for Jazz fans changed forever. A collision of wills and generations set in motion a series of events that we will never forget.
Sloan's resignation Nearly two weeks ago, any thought that Jerry Sloan would ever walkout of his job in mid-season would have been beyond preposterous. What made that crazy idea even more remote, he had just agreed to a contract extension for next season. But then, the unthinkable became reality. To watch Tom Kirkland take an in-depth look at the events surrounding Jerry Sloan's resignation, click on the video segment "Sloan's resignation" above.
Title chase
Jerry Sloan accomplished so much in his 46 years in the NBA as both a player and a coach. His accomplishments earned him a spot in the basketball Hall of Fame. But there was one important achievement that eluded him - an NBA title. He came awfully close to reaching that goal with the Jazz back in 1997 and 1998, leading them to the NBA Finals before eventually falling to perhaps the greatest player to ever play in the NBA, Michael Jordan. Jeremiah Jensen takes an in-depth look at Sloan's elusive NBA Title chase. To watch his report, click on the video segment "Title chase" above.
Toughest battle of life
Competing on the court was easy for Sloan, but when it came to his wife Bobbye's battle with cancer, it was the toughest fight of their lives. Over his 26 years as an assistant and head coach for the Jazz, Jerry Sloan had a lot of support. From players, to assistants and to team management. But most of all, he had the unwavering support from his high school sweetheart.
Throughout his playing days, from high school to the NBA, as well as nearly two dozen years in coaching, Bobbye was right by Jerry's side. She was there through the good and the bad. But in 1997, the roles reversed, as Jerry helped Bobbye through what would be her first battle with cancer. Kathy Aiken takes a look at Sloan's relationship with Bobbye. To watch this special report, click on the video segment "Toughest battle of life" above.
Owning the locker room
Among many priceless Jerry Sloan slogans is him "getting sideways" with someone. Jerry had confrontations with players throughout his career in the NBA. We took a look back at some of his most memorable confrontations. To watch this compilation, click on the video segment "Owning the locker room" above.
NBA perspective
Sloan's resignation and the behind the scenes drama sent ripples throughout the nation. Our Rod Zundel was at NBA All-Star Weekend asking NBA players and coaches what Jerry Sloan meant to them and to the league. To watch his report, click on the video segment "NBA perspective" above.
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