Have you seen Deron Williams’ body language this season? Disinterested doesn’t begin to describe it- the man should be on suicide watch. After Mikhail Prokhorov took the Williams gamble last year (giving up Derrick Favors and two first round picks in the process), the hope was Williams would re-sign this summer and be the face of the franchise for the big move (finally) to Brooklyn. Instead, it’s basically turned into Howard-or-bust for the Nets. If they somehow manage to lure Howard, then they become a top-3 team in the East. If they don’t, then Williams heads to Dallas and the Nets continue living in the lottery (without picks!), albeit with a trendier address. We know the big Russian likes to gamble, but you really think he feels confident with the odds? He shouldn’t. By flipping Williams for Amar’e, the Nets have their star (for at least three more years after this one) and the Knicks get a top-5 point guard who could make them their offense look functional. Williams-Melo-Chandler. Wouldn’t you rather have that as your core?