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Billy King says Nets will not 'buy out' Deron Williams

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Brooklyn Nets GM Billy King spoke with the team's beat writers on Wednesday after the third day of NBA Draft workouts. In his availability, King spoke to several issues surrounding the Nets, but made it clear on one key topic. No, the team is not looking to buy out Deron Williams, nor use the "stretch provision" on the team's point guard.

There it is. "Zero chance."

Williams is owed just over $43 million over the next two seasons, which makes him difficult to trade. King, however, said he isn't looking at simply dumping the former All-Star for the sake of a straight up salary dump.

Additionally, King doesn't see an all that drastic of a change in player personnel next season.

Bringing back the same basic roster, with all the large (and inflated) contracts would result in a total bill of roughly $165 million in salary, luxury taxes and repeater taxes.

The core they're looking to build around features Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, who both could hit the market this summer if they opt out of their current contracts later this month. Young has to inform the Nets of his plans on June 22, Lopez on June 29.

As for the absence of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson from his and Brett Yormark's letter last week, King had this explanation.

This doesn't, however, mean that the Nets won't look to try and move Williams this summer. Again, it won't be easy, but there have been some inquires in the past, which means it's not impossible.