Memphis and New Jersey have been engaged in trade talks centered on guard O.J. Mayo, but a deal appears unlikely, league sources tell Y!

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Desperate times, desperate measures.

The New Jersey Nets are considering acquiring OJ Mayo from the Memphis Grizzlies to appease franchise face Deron Williams.

Williams has said again-and-again he'll opt-out of his contract at season's end because he wants to sign with a contender. The Nets are 2-9. Do the math.

This, however, is bigger than a rebuilding franchise losing their superstar. Soon the Nets will swap the swampy marshes of Jersey for a shiny, new stadium in Brooklyn.

The cost of their new digs: one billion dollars.

The Nets, who lost Carmelo Anthony last winter to the cross-river Knicks, need Williams to establish a presence in New York.

Unfortunately, Williams has been complaining about the club's poor record, so management is panicking and feel compelled to make a move -even if its for perennial rumor mill fodder like Mayo.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

It’s not a mass exodus although notable players are taking off to become international ballers. As this is happening, some fans were saying that the NBA is in better shape than the NFL. Uh how so? Are you oblivious? The NFL is about to reach an agreement to end the lockout. Where is the NBA? I’m not even sure if they are even negotiating right now. The players and owners are too far apart. There are some owners against owners. As a result, the players are leaving. 

He told Yahoo! Sports he thinks there’s a “100 percent” chance the Magic won’t trade him before the Feb. 26 All-Star Game at the team’s Amway Center. Team officials still hope to convince Howard to commit to staying with the franchise for the long term. “I don’t think they are going to do anything right now because we’re winning,” Howard said after a 104-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings improved the Magic’s record to 6-3. “Even if this is the last season, let’s go out hard, regardless.”

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Dwight Howard's status with the Orlando Magic seems to change daily.

Howard now thinks he'll stay with the Magic through the All-Star break, despite executive Otis Smith telling reporters that the star hasn't rescinded his trade demand.

So things are in flux.

Usually these types of distractions are a recipe for disaster, however, the Magic have opened the season at 6-3. The more they win, the longer Howard stays.

This isn't a long-term solution, as the giant can opt-out of his contract at year's end and become a free agent.

Howard only signs an extension with the Magic if Smith pulls off the impossible and acquires Deron Williams from the New Jersey Nets. 

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Local 6 Sports Director David Pingalore has learned that Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard may be rethinking his trade request. In December, Howard told the Magic he would want to be traded to either the New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks or Los Angeles Lakers.Multiple NBA sources confirmed to Pingalore that Howard has been heavily recruiting New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams to play with him in Orlando. Pingalore has also learned the Magic are trying to trade for Williams. Pingalore's sources confirmed that Howard would rather stay in Orlando, and the sources said that it's an "80 percent" chance Howard stays.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Will he stay? Will he go?

The Dwight Howard merry-go-round has again taken another turn, as the All-Star post is reconsidering his trade request and may sign a long-term extension with the Orlando Magic.

Forget the rumors involving the Lakers and Andrew Bynum and/or Pau Gasol.

Forget the gossip about the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets.

And forget the speculation about Howard’s rift with Magic executive Otis Smith.

In the end, it may not matter because the former Slam Dunk champion is seriously considering staying in Orlando.

There’s a catch: Howard wants Deron Williams to join him. The muscular table-setter is unhappy with the Nets and, like Howard, can become a free agent in July.

This is a surprise. Most of us knew Howard and Williams had interest in partnering up, however, we assumed it would happen in a major market like Brooklyn, not Orlando.

After all, Brooklyn would allow both superstars to maximize marketing and business opportunities in New York, while Orlando is a smaller city tucked away in Florida.

So, Howard’s future remains up in the air. And the debate over whether he stays or goes will continue for some time.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The 2011 NBA Draft is done. Did your team get what they wanted? This particular draft was all about needs. There were many international players from all over the place. A lot of teams did not get what they wanted according to their fan bases. Rumored trades, and other stuff we don’t know, did not go down because of the uncertainty around the new collective bargaining agreement. This is completely understandable unless you are David Kahn. He was free-wheeling all over the draft. Trade away your cow and tractor? He’ll do that, too. 

“We need some more pieces,” he said. “There’s no secret about that. There’s not many starters on our team right now. We have a lot of great role players, a lot of guys who know their job, but in this league you need some top-tier guys so you can get the job done.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Deron Williams has leverage over the New Jersey Nets and isn’t afraid to use it.

Williams, a top point guard who can opt-out of his contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent, will only re-sign with the Nets if they supply him with 'top-tier guys'.

Translation: he wants Dwight Howard, the NBA’s best center.

(Howard is in a similar predicament with the Orlando Magic. He too can opt-out of his contract this summer and walk on the Magic as an unrestricted free agent. And he also wants a superstar teammate.)

Howard reportedly has interest in joining a Williams led Nets squad, especially since they’re leaving the marshy swamps of Jersey for the borough of Brooklyn.

Howard, a magnanimous personality, loves the lights, stars, and marketing opportunities available in The Big Apple.

So, on paper, it all works. Williams is simply providing the Nets will a little urgency to make it happen.

He might as well. After all, he has leverage.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The season is almost over. It is time to look back and reflect on the positives and negatives. The hype before tip-off was through the roof. There was a lot of anticipation on new rivalries and storylines to be played out. Will the South Beach trio work out? How will Blake Griffin play? Is Steve Nash’s window closed? Are the Lakers still the team to beat? Kevin Durant got the MVP? The Chicago Bulls are 4th seeders, right?

Charles Barkley once said, “I may be wrong, but I doubt it.” How is it like to live the life of the most hated person in any community? This sounds like a good tag line for a film. This was once held by Carlos Boozer who was rumored to milk injuries. Deron was the sweetest angel you can ever find. How things done changed. D-Wills is rocking the New Jersey Nets jersey? What, I don’t even…let me stomach this for a bit.

I was standing in front of a food truck called “Oh For Sweet Sake” located in Orange County, California somewhere. I was enjoying some conversations with owners Lisa and Al while enjoying my hot coco and Mac N Cheese. Some guy in my fantasy league offered Derrick Rose and Anderson Varejao for Tyreke Evans and Brook Lopez. I took it because Rose is performing at an MVP level. Stats are accurate as of December 1, 2010. Thanks for the hot food, guys! That made my head clearer especially with sports conversations. Follow their Twitter - http://twitter.com/ohforsweetssake

Owners dropped their insistence on what would have been known as the Carmelo Anthony rule, preventing teams from executing extend-and-trade deals similar to the one that sent Anthony from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks last season. This means that if Dwight Howard, Deron Williams and Chris Paul want to leverage their way out of Orlando, New Jersey and New Orleans, they will still be eligible to sign three-year extensions with their current teams before being immediately traded elsewhere.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Weren’t owners, in part, fighting to prevent superstars from leaving less desirable markets?

Wasn’t the five-month long lockout about re-establishing a balance between smaller, have-not markets and larger, have markets?

The owners conceded by failing to end the extend-and-trade clause, which means superstars and pending 2012 free agents Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams have leverage over Orlando, New Orleans, and New Jersey in contract negotiations.

Howard, Paul, and Williams can sign lucrative four-year extensions for max’ money with the Magic, Hornets, and Nets as part of a trade - just like Carmelo Anthony did in 2011.

Remember Anthony held the Denver Nuggets hostage, signing an extension once he knew he'd be sent to the New York Knicks as part of a blockbuster deal.

Personally, I think Howard and Paul move on.

Howard wants a flashier, bigger city to maximize his off-court pursuits, while Paul is clearly frustrated with the Hornets' progress and wants to win now.

Williams could stay with the Nets. Ownership has deep pockets. The franchise will soon swap the swamps of Jersey for a trendy Brooklyn stadium. And the stocky point guard, if he re-signs, will be the face of a re-born franchise.

Of course, the Nets have been trending upward since Mikhail Prokhorov, also known as Russia’s richest man, bought the franchise.

If Howard and Paul do leave Orlando and New Orleans through the extend-and-trade, fans will again wonder what the lockout was really for.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

You wouldn't believe the number of inky abominations etched into the pelts of pro ballers.  I'd originally planned a simple list of the league's ten worst tats, but when my dishonourable mention section hit double digits I realised I'd need to expand the scope of the project a little.  Even when I elongated the list to twenty-five terrible tattoos, I still found that I had to exclude some real atrocities.  In the end it took a full fifty spots to showcase the shittiest skin art in the L.

The Lakers outmuscled Deron Williams’ Jazz into submission by bringing out the brooms for a complete sweep. Laker fans are sitting pretty entering the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns, which the Lakers should not have any problems against. The Jazz, however, are looking down a well that leads to an abyss. What’s next?

The German concept of the uncanny, the unheimlich, popularized by Freud but more or less traceable to the dusky origins of the German national character, describes the soulsickening coexistence of the familiar and the foreign—that which we think we know, playing home to that which we are sure we don't.  The zombie; the uncomfortably lifelike robot; the ghost in the shell.  Enter the Utah Jazz.

“One thing that might give some comfort to Orlando fans is that one of the thoughts in the new collective bargaining agreement is to give an advantage to teams who are trying to keep their incumbent players,” Dyer says. “That would allow the Magic, for instance, to offer Dwight more money than any other team and (entice him) to stay home.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: They have hope.

The speculation has been that Dwight Howard will opt-out of his contract next summer and walk on the Orlando Magic, sending the South Florida franchise back to the stone age.

Some expect Howard to join the Los Angeles Lakers, even though the purple-and-gold has post Andrew Bynum. Others expect Howard to partner with a top table-setter like the New Jersey Nets’ Deron Williams.

Either way, Howard was thought to be gone. And Magic GM Otis Smith was getting ready to reserve his seat at the NBA’s annual draft lottery in the spring of 2013.

Until now.

Apparently, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will help teams retain their own stars by increasing the amount they can pay, and essentially outbid opponents for, their own free agents

Other clauses will make it difficult for stars to join forces. Salaries will be reduced; there could be a hard cap without a luxury tax or exemptions; there may even be revenue sharing. (Call it ‘The Miami Clause’.)

Expect the post lockout NBA to resemble the NFL. There will be greater parity. There will be greater balance. There will be less have-not franchises.

All of which should help Orlando keep Howard. This, it seems, is the best they can hope for. 

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

Is Andrew Bynum the league's most intriguing and powerful trade chip? He's considered a top-10 center in a class led by Dwight Howard, but there's currently no more pivotal pivot than Bynum. He might be able to deliver 2012 prospective free agents Howard or Chris Paul or Deron Williams to L.A., compensation to those stars' respective teams and revive Kobe's title plans. Bynum's so valuable to the Lakers that his real value is in leaving them.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Kobe Bryant aside, Andrew Bynum’s position is as safe and secure as any member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

In short, a trade is unlikely. 

The Lakers fell back in love with the seven-footer after his impressive play during the second half of last season. Healthy and fit, Bynum was dominant on both ends and helped resuscitate the purple-and-gold.

This isn’t why he’s safe and secure, though.

Owners’s son and Chief Executive Meddler (CEM) Jim Buss views Bynum’s success as validation. Jim Buss has attached what little reputation he has as a hoops-man to his center.

The CEM claims to have drafted Bynum and urged GM Mitch Kupchak to stick with him when his play, health, and/or fitness faltered.

As Bynum’s stock rises, so does Jim Buss’. That’s the way the twisted CEM sees it. It explains why new coach Mike Brown, hired by the CEM, promptly promoted Bynum to co-superstar with Bryant.

Bynum is a symbol of the new power in Laker-nation. Jim Buss will be hesitant to trade him -even if it could fetch Dwight Howard, Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

As confirmed exclusively to Sportando, the first meeting between Rob Pelinka, agent of Kobe Bryant and Besiktas was an acquainting one. Both sides presented their view's of the situation. Besiktas also made a first official proposal to Kobe Bryan but the offer, at the moment, is not at the level that Kobe and his agents will accept. In the next days, by the end of the week, there should be a second meeting where Besiktas will raise the proposal for the Lakers' star trying to convince him to land in Turkey and play along with Deron Williams. Kobe did not attend the meeting.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Kobe Bryant and Besiktas are getting what they want and need from these not-so subtle negotiations.

Bryant’s name stays front and center. The headlines help his brand, and allow him to charge mid-six figures for a night’s work abroad.

It also puts some pressure on the owners with respect to negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Buss clan, who own the big market Los Angeles Lakers, can’t be happy their veteran superstar is contemplating playing abroad in a second rate league with poor facilities and medical professionals.

Speaking of Besiktas, they couldn’t buy this publicity. The Turkish club is linked to arguably the game’s greatest player and a once-in-a-generation talent.

The mere chance Bryant would consider crossing the Atlantic and toiling for Besiktas helps soften the match-fixing scandal that plagued their soccer operations.

Bryant, like the signing of superstar point guard Deron Williams, gives an impression of legitimacy.

At this point, does it matter if Bryant and Besiktas' flirting becomes official with a formal contract?

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below. 

Seems that a guy like Dwight Howard, nearly 7-feet tall and answering to "Superman," would be a perfect fit at Comic-Con, where he talked about both his budding career as a voice over actor and his basketball future. What about the Lakers? "That's everybody's question," he told the "Kick" audience. "I am wearing purple ... but that's Rock's outfit." The Heat? "Never."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It would be like the Greasers combining forces with the Socs', or the Capulets breaking bread with the Montagues, or Paris Hilton ‘re-friending’ Kim Kardashian.

Or, like a want-to-be-superhero telling the Comic-Con masses he’d never join the villains, the bad guys, the capped-out Miami Heat.

Give Howard credit. He can charm a crowd -even if that crowd spends weekends playing D&D, Call of Duty, and comparing the old Star Wars trilogy to the new Star Wars trilogy.

However, this is bigger than Comic-Con. Howard’s current team, the Orlando Magic, hate the cross-state Heat. They hate Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, known as the 'Three Kings'. And they hate arrogant Heat exec' Pat Riley.

There's little Howard can do. The NBA is locked-out. His Magic will lack the pieces, unless Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu rediscover their past form, to topple the Eastern Conference champion Heat.

Howard will opt-out of his contract next July and likely join another superstar. Perhaps something happens with the Lakers -if Jerry Buss falls out of love with Andrew Bynum. Perhaps he links up with Deron Williams and the Nets.

One thing is certain: Howard would 'never' join Miami.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Turkish club Besiktas is in talks with Kobe Bryant's representatives about the possibility of the Los Angeles Lakers' star playing in Turkey during the NBA lockout. "It is a fact that Kobe Bryant's managers have contacted us," coach Ergin Ataman said Thursday, a week after Besiktas signed New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams.

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Howard found out when the rest of us did: once the trades were completed. Turns out, Howard had a problem with that.

“I wanted to be more part of the process a little more,” Howard said in a radio interview with 790 The Zone in Atlanta. “I had to step out on the court and I wanted to make sure that the people I played with wanted to go out and play hard every night. My only issue was the fact that I didn’t really have a chance to be involved, but I think with the guys that we brought in we still have an excellent chance of winning, but we all have to be on the same page.”

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Williams tweeted the signature on his one-year contract with Besiktas late Friday night from his verified Twitter account. "Just made it official, headed to Turkey ...signed with Besiktas & @BJK_Basketbol," he wrote.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Deron Williams talks-the-talk and walks-the-walk.

Two weeks ago, Williams announced he was 'taking his talent' to Turkey because of the NBA lockout. Today, Williams made it official, signing a one-year, $5 million contract with Besiktas, which includes an escape clause if the lockout is resolved.

There’s no being ‘open to’ or considering. Williams, a man of his word, is gone. But keeping his word is risky.

Suppose Williams gets injured in Turkey. The New Jersey Nets, Williams’ NBA team, could void the remaining two-years and $34 million on his contract.

Williams has to consider the long-term. Next July, he can opt-out of his contract, hit the free agent market, and sign a multi-year deal for the maximum amount available.

Of course, an injury would change everything. Teams would think twice about tendering Williams an offer, especially since the new salary cap will be less forgiving of 'bad contracts'.

Williams deserves credit for taking the initiative to play basketball. Right now, few NBA superstars can say that.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Marca: If you play overseas, I have the hunch that you would choose China rather than Europe?

Dwight Howard: Yes, I think China has more options.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Forget his goofy grins, whacky imitations, and bad jokes. Dwight Howard is smart –smarter than most of his NBA brethren.

Instead of taking his talent to Europe during the NBA lockout, Howard has his eyes on the prize: China. Playing in the land of Yao, Howard would get a handsome salary and opportunity to promote his brand. 

There’s no guarantee Howard, or any NBA star, receives a cent in Europe. Owners in Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain are known for not honouring player contracts -and this was before the financial crisis.

Bottom line: there’s no money for NBA stars in Europe. Plying their trade on the other side of the Atlantic isn’t so simple.

First, the money is scarce –even in Turkey. A sponsor, not the team, is paying Deron Williams’ $5 million salary, private driver, personal chef, and business assistant. This deal will not be available for other American superstars.

Second, the overseas game is different. In Europe, the coach and system matters more than players, while the NBA is, and always has been, a players’ league. As crazy as it sounds, an NBA superstar, like Howard, wouldn’t automatically dominate with a European club.

Third, Europe wouldn’t be a vacation. Training camp involves mountain running, weights, and multiple practices each day. Few, if any, NBA superstars would tolerate such rigours, especially if they’re returning once the lockout is settled.

Finally, European clubs won’t want American superstars. Suppose a club signs Howard. Suppose Howard plays for three months, only to return to the NBA in January when a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is signed.

That club has used a roster spot on Howard. Signing a replacement for Howard would be complicated. And they’d have to mesh his replacement into their system-based approach.

China doesn’t have Europe’s complications: the world’s strongest economy is plush with money, so first-class salaries and perks are available; elites would be given a forum to shine on-and-off court in Shanghai or Beijing; China wouldn’t put its ‘guests’ through torturous training and there’d be an open-door policy.

Don’t let Howard’s outgoing nature fool you. He's wisely leaning towards China during the lockout. Others can learn from him.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"I see him going to China or somewhere," said Williams, who teamed with Bryant to help the U.S. win the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "He's big in China. I was over there with him in Beijing. He's 'The Man' over there."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Deron Williams is right. It's China. Not Italy, Spain, Greece, or Turkey.

For personal and professional reasons, Kobe Bryant will head to China –if he plays basketball during the NBA lockout.

The lockout is an opportunity for basketball's greatest star and the world's greatest economy to further their love-money relationship. Bryant considers China his second home, while China considers Bryant one of their own, so they buy everything his name is on.

Bryant doesn't have these opportunities in Europe. Sure, he's a superstar but Greece, Italy, and Spain are on the verge of bankruptcy, so club owners and fans can't throw Euros at him.

Bryant expects five-star hotels, luxury cars, and private planes. The Chinese will give Bryant the first-class treatment he is used to. European owners, during strong economic times, are known for skimping on accommodation, buses, and flights.

What will European owners do when the European Union and World Bank are scheming on bailouts?

Bottom line: Bryant will pick China over Europe. In fact, it seems he already has.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

We’ve known that the lockout was a possibility for the last couple of years,” he said. “It’s not just something that came overnight. (Williams) didn’t wake up and say, ‘All right, go play in Turkey.’ Obviously, this is something that he felt that if a lockout was to last a long time, ‘I would consider playing.’ It’s because of the game. He wants to play the game, wants to play it at a high level, and if we can’t play in the NBA, he’s going to take that opportunity to try to play somewhere else. Hopefully, we don’t get to that point, but if we do, I’m sure a lot of guys will possibly explore it.”

And Wade made it clear: He could be in that group. "If there’s an opportunity there, I’d consider it,” he said.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Considering and doing is different.

Right now, Dwyane Wade and other NBA stars can talk like they’ll sign overseas with a European club side.

Talk is cheap, however.

Will Wade and the crème de la crème of David Stern’s league uproot their family for a fraction of their NBA salary? And who will pay the insurance on their big-ticket NBA contracts?

Suppose Wade and his NBA brethren work out the particulars and sign abroad. There’s no guarantee they get paid because the best European clubs are in bankrupt nations like Italy, Spain, and Greece. And European owners are known for not honouring contracts.

Wade and others say they’ll consider Europe. They’ll also consider the risks and likely wait for the lockout to end in America.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

With Nets superstar Deron Williams breaking the ice by agreeing to terms to play in Turkey if the NBA lockout lasts for a long time, will Knicks Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony follow suit? Highly doubtful.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: There will not be a mass exodus of NBA superstars to Europe.

For a variety of reasons, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and/or Amar’e Stoudemire won’t follow Deron Williams to exotic locations like Turkey, Greece, Spain, and Italy.

This trio may listen to offers. Their people may publicly express interest in Europe. And we -the media and fans- will eat it up because there’s nothing to discuss during the lockout.

Bottom line: few, if any, superstars will join Williams.

These high-profile athletes need insurance against injuries. This isn’t cheap, and would negate much of the salary they earned for playing.

In some cases, the risk is too great. Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, has already said his client head won't risk the remaining $80 million on his NBA contract with the New York Knicks for a few games abroad.  

Italy, Spain, Greece, and/or Portugal are on the verge of bankruptcy, and need economic help from the European Union. Can these countries afford NBA superstars? And will their leveraged owners honor these big-ticket contracts?

Expect Kobe Bryant to instead head east –as in the Far East. Bryant will apparently headline a tour to basketball-mad China, where he'll market his brand, shoes, and everything else Kobe-related.

Superstars will use Europe to gain leverage in negotiations during the lockout. The game's biggest names will be reluctant to follow Williams overseas.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Beşiktaş Cola Turka, briefly known as the team employing Allen Iverson (remember him?), has reportedly agreed to terms with another, perhaps more reliable American NBA baller. Turkey-based sports news outlet NTV Spor announced today that Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets will joining the TBL club for the 2011-12 with an out clause, should the NBA lockout end. Williams stands to earn some $16 million with Mikhail Prokhorov’s team, should a season be played.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It was Europe or nothing. Europe won.

NBA owners have locked-out the players, so Deron Williams could ply his trade overseas or sit and wait for the dispute to be settled.

Not surprisingly, the star point-guard picked Europe, specifically Besiktas Cola of Turkey. Of course, this is the same club Allen Iverson recently suited up for.

Williams sees Europe as an opportunity to keep in shape, earn a salary, and play competitive basketball. If there’s an NBA season, he can opt-out and return to America.

There’s an obvious risk: injury. Williams could hurt himself while in Turkey, which would impact his career and earning power in the NBA.

Now Williams will get insurance for financial protection, but this doesn’t help the New Jersey Nets, the club that mortgaged their future to acquire him, in case of an injury.

Nevertheless, heading to Europe is Williams’ right, especially in this current environment of a lockout.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Williams has made no firm promises about staying in New Jersey but has said he likes the direction of the franchise under new owner Mikhail Prokhorov. The 27-year-old has likewise expressed optimism about the team's scheduled move to Brooklyn starting with the 2012-13 season and his potential role in luring other top players to the Nets. The Nets, sources said, intend to make a hard push for Howard in an attempt to convince Williams to commit long term.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Collective Bargaining Agreement may change, but the NBA will always be a star’s league.

Take Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets. The soon-to-be Brooklyn franchise mortgaged the farm to acquire Williams via trade, even though he can become a free agent in July of 2012.

Right now, Williams has leverage. Before signing a long-term extension with the Nets, he wants a co-star.

Enter Dwight Howard.

The massive five-man can also opt-out of his contract and become a free agent next summer. Howard, on paper, is the perfect running mate for Williams.

The two would form a lethal inside-outside combo, capable of rivalling most eastern foes. Their star power would match Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, who ply their trade with the crosstown New York Knicks.

Unfortunately, the Nets have competition. The Orlando Magic are desperate to keep their franchise face, while the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers have both made plays for Howard.

Getting Howard won't be easy. So re-signing Williams won’t be easy. But both are a must for the Nets.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Dwight Howard sweepstakes have begun. Golden State offered Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins and Ekpe Udoh. Unlikely that'll get it done.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

The Golden State Warriors and Orlando Magic can deny rumors they’re considering swapping Monta Ellis for Dwight Howard. The evidence suggests otherwise, though.

New Warriors owner Joe Lacob, when he bought the club, didn’t give Ellis a ringing endorsement. While GM Larry Riley would only admit the team isn’t shopping their combo guard.

Lacob and rookie coach Mark Jackson want to change the losing culture surrounding the club. Right or wrong, fair or not, they may trade Ellis to achieve this.

Meanwhile, Howard has refused to sign an extension with the Magic. He wants to exercise a player’s option next July and become a free agent.

Howard knows Magic GM Otis Smith can’t let this occur. Not for a second. Smith, contrary to what he publicly claims, can’t risk his franchise face walking and getting nothing back.

So the clock is ticking. Like the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz with Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams, Smith has to cut a deal.  

It’s no shock the Warriors and Magic have talked trade. Here’s the real question: what happens next?

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Recently our big brothers at CraveOnline caught up with Deron Williams at SXSW and pressed him for his thoughts on the impending lockout and the parallels he sees between the NBA and NFL's respective situations. Check out the video below and let us know what you think by dropping a comment at the bottom of the page.

Carmelo Anthony has returned to the city, and New York may see another basketball homecoming of sorts. Sources close to Knicks president Donnie Walsh say he has targeted Kings 6-foot-11 shot blocker Samuel Dalembert as the likeliest free-agent catch this summer.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Really? That's the plan?

Reports indicate the New York Knicks’ top goal this summer is to sign a blue-collar center. And these same reports suggest the Knicks have targeted, wait for it, the one and only Samuel Dalembert.

Now Dalembert, despite having a limited upside on offense, could, in theory, cover Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire’s defensive shortcomings. So perhaps this isn't such a terrible idea.

However, the economic realities of the NBA, could pose a problem. Suppose they ink Dalmbert to a contract. Suppose Chris Paul and/or Deron Williams play out the final years of their contracts and both become free agents in July of 2012.

Would the Knicks have enough cap room after signing Dalembert to land Paul or Williams, two of the game’s best table-setter?

The answer: probably not. It could be Dalembert or Paul/Williams. If this is the situation, GM Donnie Walsh -or whoever else is running the Knicks- should think carefully about the club's plan.

Signing a mediocre center instead of a world class point guard is unforgivable.

--Oly Sandor.

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As we’ve written here, keeping Chauncey Billups around is a no-brainer. He’s better than any point guard the Knicks could have gotten on the free-agent market with whatever cap money they’d have produced by buying him out _ an estimated $8 million, but under the soon-to-be-moot old labor agreement.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Picking up the option on Chauncey Billups’ contract was the prudent move.

Sure, he gives the New York Knicks a steady hand at point guard. And sure, he’ll be better with an off-season to get healthy and a full training camp.

However, this wasn’t about 2012. It was about July 1st, 2012. That’s when Chris Paul and Deron Wiliams, two of the NBA’s top point guards, become free agents.

Both would be open to signing a lucrative contract with the big market Knicks –if the numbers fit according to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will hopefully be worked out soon.

So Billups is simply keeping the point guard seat warm for Paul or Williams. For now, he’ll do. There is, however, a fear he’s getting older and slowing down.

Of course, that’s what people were saying when Billups got sent to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson. Soon, he rediscovered his game and was an MVP candidate.

The difference is time. It’s starting to catch Billups. Thankfully, for the Knicks, he should be good for another year.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Williams' contract expires after next season, and the Knicks could have the cap space to sign him. Anthony said. "I haven't seen it but he's going to be in New York too, so you'll see a lot more of that -- the competition thing. We got another Subway Series coming."

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Jerry Sloan declared "I'm not looking for another job" when he resigned in February as Utah's coach after 23 seasons there, but he hasn't necessarily retired for good.

Sloan would listen if another team approached him, according to a source who has spoken to Sloan recently, and would seriously consider the right situation. But he won't actively seek another job or have anyone campaign for him. Almost alone among NBA coaches, Sloan, who turned 69 a week ago, doesn't have an agent.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Perhaps Todd Smith, known to the masses as Ladies Love Cool James, put it best: ‘don’t call it a comeback. I’ve been here for years’.

On the surface, LL Cool J and Jerry Sloan have nothing in common. Like that iconic line from Momma Said Knock You Out, Sloan reportedly has interest in returning to what he has done for years.

(Come on, man ...)

Of course, the veteran coach stepped away from the Utah Jazz earlier this year. The Salt Lake City sideline had been home for 20 plus seasons.

There were rumors about why he left: some said he was burnt out; some said he was tired of his situation; some speculated that superstar point guard Deron Williams had become too much too handle.

Whatever the case, Sloan is interested in returning from his temporary hiatus. Not making a comeback.

But would Sloan’s shtick succeed with another team?

Utah seemed the perfect fit. Sloan had the unconditional support of ownership. Until Williams, players either got in line or got out. Such an approach might fail in another market with established stars or superstars.  

So a comeback –sorry a return- may not happen, even if Sloan has been coaching for years. This is a reflection on the sad state of the NBA, not on Sloan.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Johnson on Wednesday stood by a claim he made Tuesday on the radio that there is "no doubt" the team will be able to re-sign point guard Deron Williams when he becomes a free agent. "I have no doubt and I'm really, really confident that we'll be able to re-sign him,"

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For months, New Jersey coveted Carmelo Anthony. "I always thought that if I got [Anthony], it would lead to my point guard," King said. "And I’ve always leaned to [Williams] a little more than the other one [Chris Paul] that people were talking about."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s a debate that has raged since both entered the league as lottery picks in 2005.

Who is the better point guard: Chris Paul or Deron Williams?

New Jersey Nets Executive Billy King apparently prefers the powerful Williams over the lightning-quick Paul. Of course, King just traded for Williams, so his opinion is hardly a surprise.

He has to support his newest addition.

However, there’s a legitimate case to be made for Williams. His bigger frame doesn’t wear down and suits the flex offensive sets that Coach Jerry Sloan ran with the Utah Jazz, while Paul’s smaller frame is more susceptible to injuries.

Paul and Williams are both free agents in 2012. Both should end up in New York. One will sign with the Knicks; one will sign with the Nets.

Then the ‘CP3’ versus ‘D-Will’ debate will move to another level.

--Oly Sandor.

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Chris Paul responded to the news of Utah trading Deron Williams with several less than flattering tags directed to the Jazz."Utah traded DWill?? #EpicFail #notagoodlook #trippin #cmonson," wrote Paul.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Actually Chris Paul, you commenting on another team and player’s business is an ‘EpicFail’.

You’d think one of the NBA’s premier point guards would know better or, at a minimum, have better things to do then going 'viral' on the Utah Jazz for dealing Deron Williams.

After all, his New Orleans Hornets are competing for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference and their future in The Bayou is uncertain.

Apparently this isn’t enough to occupy Paul’s time. He feels the need to speak up -in a manner befitting of a Twilight obsessed pre-teen- on the Jazz moving their franchise face.

To quote Paul: this is ‘notagoodlook’.

--Oly Sandor.

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Jazz CEO Greg Miller said he made the move because of a "gut feeling" that he wouldn't be able to sign Williams to a long-term deal after next season. "If you look at what happened with Phoenix, Toronto and Cleveland ... they all lost their marquee player and had very little if anything to show for it," Miller said. "This trade allows us to be competitive now and beyond the 2012 season."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Could this be the trigger that pushes the NBA’s small market owners to demand wholesale changes to the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement and financial system?

Consider the Utah Jazz’s predicament. Their superstar and best player, Deron Williams, longed for bright lights, a big city, and a chance at a championship.

That wasn’t happening in Utah, so Williams likely informed management he was opting-out of his contract in July of 2012.

Translation: he was gone.

The Jazz could’ve spent the next sixteen months convincing Williams to stay. Of course, the end result wouldn’t have changed and the Jazz would’ve lost their prime asset without compensation.

Just like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors with LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Or, the Jazz could’ve spent the next sixteen months negotiating a trade. They’d be daily fodder for pundits and fans on-line and on-air. Maybe Conan O’Brien would get in on the act.

Just like the Denver Nuggets with Carmelo Anthony.

Neither situation was appealing, which led to the Jazz suddenly shipping Williams to the Nets for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, and a pair of first round draft picks.

The Jazz did well, especially when considering Williams held all the cards, possessed all the leverage, and was hell-bent on using it. They were also lucky, though, because the Nets were willing to trade after losing out on Carmelo Anthony.

In four months, they –and the other small market owners- will get revenge. Much to the chagrin of the players, they’ll demand a hard cap, revenue sharing, and franchise player tags.

No more Anthony, Bosh, James, and Williams holding them hostage. And the looming lockout will be nasty, bitter, and long.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Chauncey Billups, who had a non-guaranteed contract for the 11-12 season, but that deal will not be bought out. Billups is locked into his $14.2 million contract for the 11-12 season, according to a source. Because Billups' contract will expire for the 2012 offseason, the Knicks retain the flexibility to acquire a potential free agent such as Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

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Deron Williams began informing associates after last season that if Amar'e Stoudemire wound up in New York, he would follow him there as a free agent in 2012, according to sources.

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Jerry Sloan resigned as head coach of the Jazz after several clashes with Deron Williams. Sloan and Williams clashed at halftime of Wednesday's loss to the Bulls. At least two members of the Jazz feared Sloan and Williams would physically fight, but the confrontation ended before reaching that point.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: There’s some mystery surrounding Jerry Sloan’s departure from the Utah Jazz.

There shouldn’t be. Here’s what we know: the old school sideline boss and new school table-setter Deron Williams didn’t click. They never did, either.

Consider that Sloan rarely played Williams during his rookie year. Sloan had no issue publicly stating that his power point guard would never measure up to or equal his former point guard in John Stockton.

Bottom line: Sloan refused to appease and pamper Williams like so many coaches and organizations do today with their superstars. 

Williams felt slighted by his coach. For some time he had been miffed by the Jazz’s penny-pinching ways, and this once again spilled over Wednesday evening in an ugly confrontation.

Who knows if Sloan and Williams really wanted a piece of each other?

Sloan, even in his mid-sixties, isn’t someone you’d cross. Fortunately, Williams won’t have to. The superstar and free agent to be in 2012 won the war against his veteran coach.

Of course, you can’t help but feel something has changed with Sloan’s resignation. The last of a dying breed is gone.

Williams may be better after Sloan’s departure. But are the Jazz?
 
--Oly Sandor.

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"What I've learned is, you don't go on TV and do The Decision." Williams said the other night in Newark, after the Jazz lost to the Nets. "So I won't be doing 'The Decision."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Add Deron Williams to the list of NBA superstars who have learned from LeBron James’ free agent follies.

There will be no soap opera, world tour, or sequel to The Decision. Williams is a top table-setter, and where he decides to spend the next portion of his career will be dramatic enough. ( For the record: Williams can become a free agent in July of 2012.)

Just a hunch: he won't stay with the Utah Jazz.

Williams is as competitive as Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant. He hates losing and the Jazz, while usually competitive, never have the pieces to win a championship.

Unfortunately, the small market Jazz will always the lack the resources to add premier talent, especially when compared to larger markets like the New York Knicks or L.A. Lakers.

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement may level the playing field for small market clubs like Utah, but then there’s Salt Lake City. Superstars typically prefer bigger, sexier locations to maximize endorsements.

This will be too much for the Jazz to overcome. So it's how, not if, Williams leaves.

--Oly Sandor.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

After the anticipated lockout ends, Howard will be entering the final year of his contract followed by an early-termination option for 2012-13.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: What happens in Orlando if Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu fail to appease Dwight Howard?

Expect Howard to become a free agent following the 2012 season by exercising a player’s option. He’ll then look to partner with fellow free agent superstars like Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Deron Williams.

Gatorade Slam Dunk Contests, pearly white smiles, and jokes aside, Howard wants to win. He’s envious of the Three Kings in Miami and Big Four in Boston.

If the Magic can’t provide the right supporting cast, Howard will provide it for himself -even if that means leaving.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"Rajon Rondo is the best all around point guard in the NBA. Deron Williams is the best point guard, but Rondo is the best all around." 

(Magic Johnson, ESPN Halftime show, May 22nd, 2010)

HoopsVibe's Call: Forget point guards. Rondo has been the best player in the playoffs.

When looking at their total body of work, HoopsVibe News isn't quite ready to put him above Chris Paul, Deron Williams, or even Steve Nash. After all, Rondo, who's style resembles Jason Kidd when with the New Jersey Nets, has just started playing like an elite table-setter this playoffs.

Here's the real question: if you were starting a team, who would you want Rondo, Paul, Williams, or Nash?

Nash would get excluded because of age, wear-and-tear, and defensive shortcomings. Even with his fine playoff, most would still take Williams or Paul over Rondo.

However, that could change - and soon - if Rondo leads the Boston Celtics to an NBA Title and wins Most Valuable Player for the playoffs.

Who would you rather have Rondo, Paul, Williams, or Nash?   

"We can't let (Deron) Williams hurt us," Dantley said. "We have to take the ball out of his hands. That means when he comes down the court on the left side, we don't have three guys over here hugging on the guy on the weakside. That means sprint back to the paint, keep vision on Williams at all times." 

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