Deron Williams returned from Russia Thursday night but there's still no word on why the American guard crossed the ocean or who he saw on this unlikely of vacations. There is word that the Nets might be crossing the ocean in the other direction to pursue a Russian guard, CSKA Moscow's Alexei Shved, a 6'6" speedster known as the "Russian Rubio."
A Russian sports site reports that the Nets are one of seven teams who are interested in Shved. At 23, he's a free agent after going undrafted in 2011. His contract runs through next season but reportedly has a buyout. In addition to the Nets, the Bobcats, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Hawks, Thunder and Raptors are reportedly interested in Shved.
The site puts the Nets' chances at no more than 10 percent, suggesting Memphis is the most likely destination. The Nets, writes Nikita Belogolovtsev, may seem to be the "default" landing spot for any Russian player but notes as well that the value of the Russian connection can be "overestimated."