SB Nation New York - Nets' Deron Williams Will Play In Turkey If Lockout Continues, According To Reportshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-07-08T12:54:45-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/20283952011-07-08T12:54:45-04:002011-07-08T12:54:45-04:00Deron Williams' Turkey Decision: Will Others Follow?
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<p>Will <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a>' star <span>Deron Williams</span> ever actually play in Turkey if the NBA Lockout lingers? Will other NBA stars follow him? Questions without real answers at this point. There are, however, plenty of opinions. Let's look at some of the reaction to Thursday's announcement that Williams has a one-year deal to play in Turkey if the lockout delays the 2011-2012 NBA season.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/15304797/playing-in-europe-during-lockout-isnt-savvy-its-dangerous">Playing in Europe during lockout isn't savvy, it's dangerous - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball</a></p>
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<p>Besiktas coach Ergin Ataman told every media outlet that would listen Thursday that his next target would be <span>Kobe Bryant</span>. OK, sounds like a plan. But let's be honest about this: As great as it would be for Williams, Bryant, Paul, Howard, LeBron, Wade, etc., to go on some barnstorming tour of Europe, could this really happen? <br><br> In all likelihood, nope. <br><br> "They won't all go," a prominent longtime agent told me. "There's not enough money there. This notion that there's all this money over there is simply not true. It's dangerous to do this." <br><br> Dangerous because, while the agreement between the NBA and FIBA to approve the poaching of each other's players evidently is suspended during the lockout, the difficulty in getting contracts like Williams' deal with Besiktas insured remains a serious impediment. Williams, 27, is due $34 million on the final two years of his current NBA contract, including a player option for 2012-13. Depending on what the new collective bargaining agreement allows, he'll make upwards of $70 million-plus on his next one. <br><br> "He's going to risk that to make a few million dollars?" another high-profile agent said. "What if he gets hurt?"</p>
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<p>ESPN<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=5-on-5-Deron-110708"> hosted a debate</a> with a trio of basketball writers on the subject.</p>
<p>Pro Basketball Talk <a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/07/don%E2%80%99t-expect-a-flood-of-top-nba-players-to-europe/">does not expect a flood of players to head overseas</a>.</p>
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<p>Williams may or may not go (he doesn’t have to report until Sept. 1, the first game is Sept. 27, right about when a del needs to be struck to salvage the full NBA season). But money is the reason you are not going to see a river of top-flight NBA guys heading overseas — they have too much money in their deals to risk going overseas.</p>
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<p>NBA.com's Hang Time Blog <a href="http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/07/07/taking-their-talents-to-turkey/">figured something like this would happen</a>.</p>
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<p>With the uncertainty of the lockout, you had to know it was only a matter of time before one of the league true stars took this sort of drastic step to secure their position in case of an extended work stoppage. <br><br> What will be most interesting in the coming weeks is how many other high-profile players and how many other foreign teams are willing to dive into the fray.</p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/7/8/2266215/deron-williams-turkey-decision-will-others-followEd Valentine2011-07-07T12:46:09-04:002011-07-07T12:46:09-04:00Deron Williams Will Play In Turkey If Lockout Continues, According To Reports
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<p>I know NBA Commissioner <b>David Stern</b> has always wanted to increase the NBA's presence around the world. I can't believe, though, that what <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> star <b><span>Deron Williams</span></b> is reportedly ready to do is what Stern had in mind.</p>
<p>Earlier today it was reported that Williams<a target="_blank" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6745426&campaign=rss&source=NEWYORKHeadlines"> has agreed to play in Turkey</a> if the NBA Lockout impacts the 2011-2012 NBA season -- which many experts believe it will. ESPN reported that Williams has signed a one-year, $5 million deal to play for Besiktas.</p>
<p>This news cannot be thrilling to Nets coach Avery Johnson or team owner Mikhail Prokhorov. The team is hoping that Williams, who can be a free agent after what everyone hopes will be the upcoming 2011-2012 season, will be the cornerstone of the franchise when the Nets move to Brooklyn for 2012-2013 season.</p>
<p><i>-- SBNation.com has<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/7/7/2263933/deron-williams-turkey-signs-besiktas-new-jersey-nets-rumors"> much more on the Williams story</a>, including insurance issues and discussion of whether other NBA stars will follow Williams' lead</i></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/7/7/2337604/deron-williams-will-play-in-turkey-if-lockout-continues-according-toChris Mottram