In a matter of hours, NBA free agency will officially open and Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams has made it clear he plans on making his decision quickly. Most reports indicate the superstar will take his talents to the Dallas Mavericks or help the Nets build their franchise in Brooklyn.
Earlier this week, Ed Valentine explained why Williams should join Dirk Nowitzki with the Mavericks. But I'll give you the three reasons D-Will should stay right where he is and help open the brand new Barclays Center in a big way.
1. Cash. Money. Coin. -- We can talk about the countless reasons Williams should play for both teams, but the one thing he will get in Brooklyn that he cannot get anywhere else in the league (including Dallas) is a true max contract. The Nets can offer a five-year deal worth $109 million, while the most any other franchise can offer is a four-year contract worth $81 million.
Then there are also the endorsement opportunities that will be thrown at the point guard. While playing in New Jersey Williams became a part of the Red Bull family and that deal is likely to be dwarfed by the non-stop offers he finds as the face of a brand new franchise in Brooklyn.
Williams will also be in perfect position to get a second $100 million deal from the Nets in five years when he'll still only be 33 years old.
2. Legacy -- Money is most important for nearly every player once they hit the open market, but for those with a bigger spotlight on them like Williams, the way you are viewed now and in the future is a factor that shouldn't be overlooked.
The Mavericks already have their title and the man that led them there -- Nowitzki -- will never be surpassed in the eyes of Dallas fans by any modern day player. That would leave Williams in a no-win situation, because even if he is able to win it all, he'll still never get as much credit as Dirk, but will be given plenty of the blame if the franchise comes up short.
In Brooklyn, Williams has the rare chance to be the first face of a franchise, something that will never happen in the NBA in New York ever again. If he can lead the Nets to a title during his run at Barclays, Williams will reach the sort of legend status that few players get to see.
3. Dwight Howard -- Sure, the "Dwightmare" is still ongoing and Howard could easily play in Orlando, Houston or Los Angeles for most or all of the 2012-13 season. But until he signs a long-term deal somewhere other than Brooklyn, everything points to the center wanting to be a part of the "new" Nets.
It might not be as soon as Williams, GM Billy King and owner Mikhail Prokhorov would like, but the possibility of Howard joining the Nets in 2013 has to be an appealing scenario. Imagine a squad of Williams, Gerald Green, Gerald Wallace, Brook Lopez and Howard taking the floor of the Barclays Center, or as it could be known by then: The House That Deron Built.