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Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Nets are talking with the Kings about a trade that would send Deron Williams out west. In return, the Nets would get Darren Collison, Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson. The Kings also want Mason Plumlee, but a league source tells NetsDaily that Brooklyn will not trade Plumlee.
Here's how Woj broke the story...
The Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings are discussing a deal centered on former All-Star guard Deron Williams, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
The Nets have been shopping their high-priced star players, and the Kings have been probing the market for an impact point guard.
No deal is imminent, but the talks are ongoing, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Sources also suggest that Kings rookie Nik Stauskas has been in the trade discussions.
David Aldridge later tweeted that talks are "not that hot."
Sources indicating Kings-Nets talks on @DeronWilliams, for now, not far advanced. Discussions "not that hot," per league source.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) December 21, 2014
Rumors of Nets-Kings talks --without details-- have circulated for more than a week.
The Kings, Woj writes, have "significant interest with Williams, but a hurdle to a possible deal is the Kings’ desire to have center Mason Plumlee included into the package, league sources said. Brooklyn has considered Plumlee a significant part of its future core."
A league source, asked about the Woj report, would only say, "Plumlee is not being traded." Both the Nets and Kings have asked about multiple players in the discussions, said a second league source.
And Lenn Robbins, the Nets in-house reporter, tweeted that it's no surprise Sacramento wants Plumlee.
The @SacramentoKings have coveted @masonplumlee since he played with @boogiecousins on USA Team. Plumlee isn't going anywhere #Nets
— Lenn Robbins (@LennRobbins) December 21, 2014
While a trade involving the four players and not Plumlee wouldn't save the Nets significant money this season, overall, it could save the Nets on the order of $30 million over the next three years.
Collison would be the most significant player coming to Brooklyn. At 6'0", he is three inches shorter than D-WIll, but is three years younger at 27. His numbers this year, other than his three point shooting, are nearly identical to Williams, but he earns only $4.8 million, about a quarter of what Williams earns. He has two more years after this one on his contract, at $5 million and $5.3 million. That compares to D-Will's contract years of $21 million and $22.3 million along with $19.8 this season. The final year, in 2016-17, is a player option.
Woj writes of the Kings' point guard...
"The Kings have been thrilled with Collison, who has emerged as a strong leader and a popular teammate this season. There remains a reluctance for Sacramento to move him in a deal, sources said, but the Nets would need a point guard to replace Williams."
Derrick Williams, a 6'8" small forward, has a been disappointment in his NBA career after being taken at No. 2 overall in the 2011 draft. Williams, 23, is making $6.3 million in the last year of his rookie deal. Thompson, 6'11", played college ball at Rider. After a couple of good years, he has fallen off recently. He has two more years on his deal, at $6 million and $6.4 million. He also has a partially guaranteed ($2.65 million) year in 2016-17.