Brooklyn Nets unfazed by trade rumors

Deron Williams remembers how he learned he was being traded from the Jazz to the Nets. He was a Jazz practice when Ric Bucher came on ESPN and reported the two teams had an agreement and that he was headed to New Jersey. So Tuesday's trade rumors didn't bother him that much.

"It’s nice to get a little notice so I don’t find out on SportsCenter," he said with a smile Wednesday.  D-Will said neither he nor his teammates are going to be affected by the ESPN report that the Nets are calling around --and being called-- about him, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez.  One team insider dismissed the report as nothing more than Billy King et al making the calls GM's usually do at this point in the schedule, just before December 15 when off-season acquisitions can be dealt.  But an opposing GM told Fred Kerber that the Nets have indeed been active.

"I don’t see it being a problem. Brook’s dealt with it, so I don’t see it being a problem for him. I don’t think Joe’s too worried about it either." Reporters, of course, couldn't ask Lopez and Johnson. They're hurt and not on the trip to Chicago. Williams said the rumors are not going to stop him from playing as well as he can for Brooklyn.

"We have that belief anyways, whether that story comes out or not," Williams said. "No matter what’s being written or whatever, I’m still here. I’m still a Net. My priority is to play for this organization."

"It's part of this business. Trading is a part of this business and I remember (former coach) Cotton Fitzsimmons used to tell the team, 'I love every one of you. But if I could trade one of you to make us better, I would,'" Lionel Hollins added.

Only Kevin Garnett dealt with the underlying reality, that the team despite its huge salary, isn't performing up to expectations.  He was asked if this group can get it done, as Stefan Bondy wrote.

"I mean. I don’t know how to answer that without being, you know," he said. We don't, know that is.

• Nets' Deron Williams not worried about trade rumors - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
• D-Will: Not worried about potential trades - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Nets' big three struggles against the best - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Deron Williams ‘not worried’ about being on trade block - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Nets’ Williams, Hollins unfazed by speculation of shake-up trades - Steve Aschburner - NBA.com
• The Brooklyn Nets are a mess that will be nearly impossible to clean up - Kelly Dwyer - Yahoo! Sports
  
• Noah still dealing with knee, ankle injuries - Nick Friedell - ESPN Chicago