Deron Williams Photos

On Thursday, Jason Kidd gave some hints, but not many details, about how he sees the Nets offense running next season ... emphasis on "running." He wants to "pass the ball ahead" rather than dribble ... wants to "explore early, get up and down more" ... wants to play Deron Williams off the ball, have Gerald Wallace play "point forward," giving him more responsibilities. Does that mean Kidd wants D-Will to be more of a distributor? He did say he wants his star point guard to be an "extension of the coach" like he was, but also talked about how much better of a shooter Williams is. Mic...

Deron Williams was at a Nike event in Brooklyn Saturday when Jared Zwerling caught up with him. D-Will admitted that he and his teammates didn't tell the truth last season about the Nets rivalry with the Knicks. It wasn't "just another game." "The energy from those four games this season were probably more intense than any other four games we played in," admitted Williams. "Even when we won or when the Knicks won, the way they celebrated wasn't how you would celebrate after a normal win. It definitely means much more." D-Will thinks the addition of Jason Kidd is going to make the riv...

The first Nets player, other than Deron Williams, has reacted to Jason Kidd's hiring. Speaking with Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York, Reggie Evans used the word, "excited" more than once to describe how he felt when he got the news. (All 15 players simultaneously received a text message from Billy King on Wednesday night announcing the hire.) "I was very excited. I feel like it's the beginning of a new era. I feel like it's a whole new movement for the team, and the NBA in general. I think it's great for the NBA. It's almost overwhelming," Evans told Zwerling. "He's the package when i...

Brooklyn Nets star guard Deron Williams listen as new head coach Jason Kidd is introduced during an NBA basketball news conference Thursday, June 13, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Brooklyn Nets new coach Jason Kidd, left, and star guard Deron Williams pose after an NBA basketball news conference introducing Kidd Thursday, June 13, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

BROOKLYN - Today, the Nets "introduced" their new head coach Jason Kidd, who also happens to be arguably the most recognizable face in franchise history. A historic day in Brooklyn, indeed, as Kidd took to the podium to not only speak with the media but speak directly to the fans who welcome him back with open arms. Kidd said, "Yes, I do have a lot to learn about coaching," but feels like he has it in him, based on his playing days. Now, he wants Deron Williams to "be that guy." The player/coach who can lead the team on the court. Throughout, Kidd gave Williams plenty of praise. He...

Deron Williams spoke exclusively to Stefan Bondy Wednesday night about the Nets decision to hire Jason Kidd as his head coach. D-Will talked about the decision as a risk vs. reward calculation. "Nobody knows if he’s going to be a great coach," Williams said. "It’s going to take him a couple years to adjust. But at the same time, he could be a great coach off the bat."It’s a risk, but I think it’s somebody we can grow with. I think it’s somebody we’re definitely going to respect and listen to. And I’m excited about the ways he’s going to help me as a player and a leader." Williams said...

Former point guard has a close relationship with the Nets' Deron Williams

C.J. Watson, who did a competent job backing up Deron Williams, apparently won't be back, Peter Vecsey reported Saturday night. Vecsey tweeted the Nets will now be in the market for a replacement. C.J. Watson plans 2 opt out of contract (1.1M) 2 become UFA. Meaning Nets in market 4 point able 2 get shots 4 Deron when they team up... — Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) June 9, 2013 Watson was slated to make $1.1 million next season, after making the vets minimum of $955,000 last season. The Nets are reportedly ready to use all or part of their mini-MLE on Bojan Bogdanovic. Under the CBA...

Mike James was not on the team at the start of preseason, so Mavs Moneyball did not have a preview story on him. The veteran guard became something of a lightning rod for fan criticism during the year, a sort of poster boy for the collapse of the post-championship era that promised Deron Williams and instead delivered a 37 year old journeyman signed midseason as a plan Z. A quick recap: There a few better current examples of a self made basketball player than Mike James. Undrafted out of Duquense, Mike James spent the first part of his professional career overseas, working on his...

In an interview published earlier this month in the Alabama Baptist, Deron Williams spoke of his relationship with God and how he believes it's helped his game. After a "salvation experience" in 2009, Williams was baptized Jan. 24, 2010. "People who have been around me for years definitely notice the changes in the way I act and the way I carry myself," Williams said. "People who didn’t know that I was a Christian have commented and said things to me. I played better since I found the Lord. I think my focus was better; my mind was clear." Williams was baptized while playing for Uta...

Last July and August, the Nets re-made their roster, adding 11 new players, including three rookies, retaining only Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks. The makeover cost them more than $340 milllion. This year, Billy King is on the record saying the "majority" of the Nets will return this season and that continuity alone should help the team improve. A quick analysis of the Nets roster suggests that there will be few roster openings, maybe as few as two or three. Here's the math. --Assume that of the Nets four free agents, one, Andray Blatche, will return --...

Mark Cuban let Tyson Chandler go. Jason Terry and Jason Kidd followed. He didn't show up in New York last year for a meeting with Deron Williams, then offered him $30 million less than the Nets. Instead, he chose to shoot episode of his reality TV show, "Shark Tank." After that, he dismissed his failure to sign his top target. It was better, under the new CBA, to have let D-Will go. Now, he is in his "quick rebuild" mode, but his roster looks kinda bare. He has 35-year-old Dirk Nowitzki who he will pay $22.7 million next year. He has 36-year-old Vince Carter who he will pay $3.2 milli...

In the final edition of "Nets Magazine" on YES, Deron Williams talks about how criticism of his first half play motivated his post All-Star Break bounce back. After Sarah Kustok noted, "he used the criticism from the media for fuel for a bounce back in the second half," Williams explained how much it hurt to hear the criticism ... and how the motivation will last beyond this season. "When you hear people talking about it that way ... [that] it's all on me ... it definitely hurts, definitely motivates you to come back stronger," said Williams, adding, "So I look forward to prove people ...

The Nets dominated the Pacers this season, sweeping them for the first time in six years, including two wins at Bankers Life Field House. They even won without Deron Williams back in February, just before the All-Star break. In that game, Tyshawn Taylor filled in and scored 12 points in 34 minutes. In fact, in all three wins, guard play and offensive dominance by Brook Lopez spelled the difference. The Knicks go into Game 6 vs. the Pacers Saturday night down 3-2. And, writes Tim Bontemps, they have yet to figure out Indiana. Bontemps offers a summary of how the Nets beat the Pacers so...