Deron Williams agress with Besiktas (turkish team )Derom Williams to play in Turkey during lockout

[NUMBERICA]

For Deron it's merely a way to play competitive basketball until the issues get resolved. It's like "low" paid training camp and he's coming off injury so he needs it. But the contract stipulates he says sayonara once the lockout is over.

The spin has been that other players could do this which would put pressure on the owners in negotiations. That's the ploy. But owners are not going to feel pressure since no significant players will sign longterm deals.

Protecting your (continually depreciating asset for which you can claim a loss that adds up to tens of millions of dollars every year) asset (injury) isn't incentive?

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

Sure it's a little hyperbole. But players don't want to make 1/5th or less of what they can make, and they don't want to live overseas. So the ploy doesn't work.

The players won't be getting any paychecks while the lockout drags on, thus it's not like he's going to Turkey just to make "1/5th" of what he is currently making. Obviously, these NBA players are all going to have outs in their Euro contract as soon as the lockout ends. So Deron gets to go to Turkey, make 6 figures or more, and the instant the lockout is over he immediately gets to come back to the NBA and resumes getting his paychecks from the Nets.

How in the hell is that a ploy?

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

The owners all have to be on the same page. Just because Prokorov wants something doesn't the rest of the owners will also.

Agreed, but if this lockout snowballs we'll start seeing more and more players electing to do what D-Will has already agreed to. That's going to start effecting more and more of these owners. I'm not saying it will make the owners completely flip on all of their demands and come back to the negotiations with their tails between their legs but it's definitely going to give them something to think about. It certainly adds leverage in the players favor IMO.

 

[billyshelby]

Protecting your (continually depreciating asset for which you can claim a loss that adds up to tens of millions of dollars every year) asset (injury) isn't incentive?

Two ways to look at this: One, If Deron gets hurt, but the new CBA allows him to resign him, Prokhorov will look the other way. The endgame is Deron resigning, not losing money next year. Two, Deron gets hurt and doesn't resign (or suffers a career altering injury). At that point, you can expect Prokhorov to have a team of lawyers scrutinizing every legal angle to withhold Deron's pay for breach of contract.

The broad answer to your question is no, I don't see great incentive. Prokhorov has to play nice with Deron (for now.) And since injury is the snake eyes dice roll, he'll cross his fingers and play the odds.

 

[billyshelby]

The players won't be getting any paychecks while the lockout drags on, thus it's not like he's going to Turkey just to make "1/5th" of what he is currently making. Obviously, these NBA players are all going to have outs in their Euro contract as soon as the lockout ends. So Deron gets to go to Turkey, make 6 figures or more, and the instant the lockout is over he immediately gets to come back to the NBA and resumes getting his paychecks from the Nets.

How in the hell is that a ploy?

You're thinking like a civilian. Players don't want to lose the prime of their careers in Europe (or worse.) They're not going to happily wait out the owners in Bulgaria. And since the owners, by all accounts, are willing to give up the whole season, they'll be in the same place they were before facing another year overseas. More importantly, not every player is going to get a gig overseas. Those leagues have their own stars who sell seats, and don't want every single NBA guy out of a job. So the voting bloc for contracts will still tilt heavily toward guys who don't have jobs.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Two ways to look at this: One, If Deron gets hurt, but the new CBA allows him to resign him, Prokhorov will look the other way. The endgame is Deron resigning, not losing money next year. Two, Deron gets hurt and doesn't resign (or suffers a career altering injury). At that point, you can expect Prokhorov to have a team of lawyers scrutinizing every legal angle to withhold Deron's pay for breach of contract.

The broad answer to your question is no, I don't see great incentive. Prokhorov has to play nice with Deron (for now.) And since injury is the snake eyes dice roll, he'll cross his fingers and play the odds.

Getting your money back on a franchise-player isn't worth the player lost. If any other stars go, that's nothing but leverage for the players in this situation.

 

[billyshelby]

Getting your money back on a franchise-player isn't worth the player lost. If any other stars go, that's nothing but leverage for the players in this situation.

He's not losing the player for even one second of whatever regular season transpires. He's assuming an injury risk for a player he doesn't have signed after this season. You could convince me that Mickey Arison would be motivated if DWade or Lebron did the same thing, but those guys won't do that. They have WAY too much to lose. Deron is a unique case.

 

[NUMBERICA]

He's not losing the player for even one second of whatever regular season transpires. He's assuming an injury risk for a player he doesn't have signed after this season. You could convince me that Mickey Arison would be motivated if DWade or Lebron did the same thing, but those guys won't do that. They have WAY too much to lose. Deron is a unique case.

So he traded every good asset that team had besides Brook Lopez simply for a guy whose contract expires next offseason? Here I thought they were actually trying to get and keep a player.

And how do you know he's not losing the player for even one second? That's some crystal ball you have there.

 

[moevillini]

as I understand it (perhaps a joke in itself) Deron will have to cover the cost of an insurance policy to pay his NBA salary if he is injured an unable to play, or negotiate with the Turkish team for them to pay for the coverage

Williams' deal will be for one year and $5 million, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.

Besiktas coach Ergin Ataman told the New York Times that the team also has an agreement with Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia.

Ataman told the newpaper Besiktas isn't done chasing NBA players.

"If there's a possibility, we'll talk with Kobe (Bryant) if he'd like to play in Europe with Deron and with other guys to play we can talk with him," Ataman said. "If Kobe would like to play with us, we will also contact his agent and maybe with him."

Ataman told the newspaper that Williams' deal would become official in the next 24 hours and that the club's president, Seref Yalcin, would join Williams for a news conference in the United States next week. Besiktas officials held a similar news conference in New York when they signed Iverson last October....

...Sources say Williams would not be required to report to the Turkish club before the end of August or early September and that his deal with them would include an immediate out that allows him to return to the NBA as soon as the work stoppage ends....

...The bigger risk for Williams is injury-related, especially after he was plagued by a wrist injury throughout the second half of last season after the Nets acquired him from Utah on Feb. 24. The injury required surgery on Williams' right wrist after the season.

The guaranteed NBA money Williams is owed by the Nets -- nearly $34 million if Williams does not opt out of the $17.8 million he's owed in 2012-13 -- would not be protected in the event of injury overseas. That means either Williams or Besiktas will have to make insurance arrangements that protect him against long-term injury.

 

[billyshelby]

So he traded every good asset that team had besides Brook Lopez simply for a guy whose contract expires next offseason? Here I thought they were actually trying to get and keep a player.

And how do you know he's not losing the player for even one second? That's some crystal ball you have there.

What are you talking about? Deron playing overseas does not impact his ability to sign him. Hindering Deron from playing might. He's risking Deron getting hurt, but he's not risking Deron signing a longterm deal in Turkey.

And I don't have a crystal ball: It's IN the contract. Deron leaves the second the new CBA is ratified.

 

[NUMBERICA]

What are you talking about? Deron playing overseas does not impact his ability to sign him. Hindering Deron from playing might. He's risking Deron getting hurt, but he's not risking Deron signing a longterm deal in Turkey.

And I don't have a crystal ball: It's IN the contract. Deron leaves the second the new CBA is ratified.

I'm still talking about injury. With Deron coming off of a rough year in that regard and tabbed to play in a chippy league (earlier than when the NBA would as well), as an owner, there's no way you can't be alarmed at the prospect.

 

[billyshelby]

I'm still talking about injury. With Deron coming off of a rough year in that regard and tabbed to play in a chippy league (earlier than when the NBA would as well), as an owner, there's no way you can't be alarmed at the prospect.

OK, but the concern is only catastrophic injury. And since he's playing basketball, it's a pretty reasonable injury risk given that he would be taking the same risk in NBA games. Like I said, a guy signed to more than one year is a different animal. But NO WAY a guy signed to more than one year goes over to Europe. Deron is a special case.

 

[orangello]

Can we back up a second for all of those who think this will be good for the players? How many young players in the US have a goal to play oversees so that they can get paid? I would say none. The NBA is top dog, no questions asked. That is where every player wants to be.

Also, is everyone forgetting who DWill is? He has a chip on his shoulder becuase he wants to be considered the best and he wants to win rings, yes, multiple championships. Do you honestly think that he would be happy staying in Europe for 2 or 3 years if he needs to just to get a paycheck? If your answer is yes then you have lost all touch with reality.

Deron is not unique to this "wanting to win championships" thinking. Everyother player in the NBA thinks the same way.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

You're thinking like a civilian. Players don't want to lose the prime of their careers in Europe (or worse.) They're not going to happily wait out the owners in Bulgaria. And since the owners, by all accounts, are willing to give up the whole season, they'll be in the same place they were before facing another year overseas. More importantly, not every player is going to get a gig overseas. Those leagues have their own stars who sell seats, and don't want every single NBA guy out of a job. So the voting bloc for contracts will still tilt heavily toward guys who don't have jobs.

You don't need a large amount of NBA players to go overseas to put some sort of pressure on the owners, you just need the right ones. #2 overall pick Derrick Williams has already talked about possibly joining Kobe in China. I'm sure if Kobe's going to try and put some sort of traveling team together, he's going to want a "who's who" of NBA players. If Kobe can put this thing together, I have a hard time believing that he's going to go through all that trouble just to tour China with the likes of Jaron Collins and Mario Chalmers.

And you're quote about players not wanting to "lose the prime of their careers" playing in Europe makes no sense. If there's no basketball for the next year, why spend a season during the "prime of your career" just sitting on your ***? Why not go somewhere and get paid and actually play basketball? You're acting like these guys are going to be banished to countries they don't want to live in for long periods of time. The fact of the matter is, if they even end up over there, it will be extremely temporary and they'll have a nice chunk of change to show for their troubles.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

Can we back up a second for all of those who think this will be good for the players? How many young players in the US have a goal to play oversees so that they can get paid? I would say none. The NBA is top dog, no questions asked. That is where every player wants to be.

Also, is everyone forgetting who DWill is? He has a chip on his shoulder becuase he wants to be considered the best and he wants to win rings, yes, multiple championships. Do you honestly think that he would be happy staying in Europe for 2 or 3 years if he needs to just to get a paycheck? If your answer is yes then you have lost all touch with reality.

Deron is not unique to this "wanting to win championships" thinking. Everyother player in the NBA thinks the same way.

I'm confused. How does continuing to play basketball and get paid while the NBA is out of business have any sort of relevance to D-Will and his desire to win NBA championships?

 

[NUMBERICA]

Can we back up a second for all of those who think this will be good for the players? How many young players in the US have a goal to play oversees so that they can get paid? I would say none. The NBA is top dog, no questions asked. That is where every player wants to be.

Also, is everyone forgetting who DWill is? He has a chip on his shoulder becuase he wants to be considered the best and he wants to win rings, yes, multiple championships. Do you honestly think that he would be happy staying in Europe for 2 or 3 years if he needs to just to get a paycheck? If your answer is yes then you have lost all touch with reality.

Deron is not unique to this "wanting to win championships" thinking. Everyother player in the NBA thinks the same way.

I'm really confused. He'd be back as soon as the lockout is finished.

 

[billyshelby]

You don't need a large amount of NBA players to go overseas to put some sort of pressure on the owners, you just need the right ones. #2 overall pick Derrick Williams has already talked about possibly joining Kobe in China. I'm sure if Kobe's going to try and put some sort of traveling team together, he's going to want a "who's who" of NBA players. If Kobe can put this thing together, I have a hard time believing that he's going to go through all that trouble just to tour China with the likes of Jaron Collins and Mario Chalmers.

And you're quote about players not wanting to "lose the prime of their careers" playing in Europe makes no sense. If there's no basketball for the next year, why spend a season during the "prime of your career" just sitting on your ***? Why not go somewhere and get paid and actually play basketball? You're acting like these guys are going to be banished to countries they don't want to live in for long periods of time. The fact of the matter is, if they even end up over there, it will be extremely temporary and they'll have a nice chunk of change to show for their troubles.

You're still thinking like a civilian. Hey, it's Europe, make a little scratch, have an adventure, it's only one year, maybe two, I'll meet some foreign babes, see some old buildings. They don't think that way.

You're also missing the other key point. All of Europe does not have enough jobs for NBA players. Most will be at home NOT collecting paychecks. The ones who don't get jobs will be voting with the same power per vote as Deron.

 

[orangello]

My point is that the players want to play in the NBA. I can see an entire season being missed because of this lockout but it will not be any longer than that. I can see DWill and others being bored with European basketball and wanting to get things going again in the NBA.

I realize that he has a clause that states that when the lockout is over that he can immediately return to the NBA but to me that is not what I would consider to be a big deal. He wants to play in the NBA and this might be more of a sabbatical.

 

[jrclone]

If he's willing to play in Turkey, maybe DWill wouldn't have minded staying in Utah. I can't imagine there's much more going on in Turkey to interest Deron than in Utah.

 

[NUMBERICA]

If he's willing to play in Turkey, maybe DWill wouldn't have minded staying in Utah. I can't imagine there's much more going on in Turkey to interest Deron than in Utah.

You don't think Istanbul - one of the oldest metropolises on earth, one of the most rich in history, with one of the highest populations - would have more to interest ANYONE, as oppose to Utah? It's not a backwoods town, exactly.

I guess all I can say is of the cities I haven't been to yet, Istanbul tops the list by a mile for me.