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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.
Will #Nets buyout or stretch Deron Williams? Billy King on the record says no.
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) June 3, 2015
Billy King says zero chance Nets will stretch or buy out Deron Williams.
— devin kharpertian (@uuords) June 3, 2015
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.
Billy King says he doesn't expect next year's roster to be drastically different, hopes to add pieces to what they already have #Nets
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) June 3, 2015
Billy King on Nets staying under the luxury tax for next season. "Odds are we probably will not be under the tax," King said.
— Mitchell Abramson (@nydnmabramson) June 3, 2015
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.
Nets GM Billy King said the plan is to re-sign Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, and if it means being over the luxury tax so be it.
— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) June 3, 2015
As for the absence of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson from his and Brett Yormark's letter last week, King had this explanation.
Billy King on leaving out Joe and Deron's name in letter to season ticket holders: "I couldn’t put all 15 guys in the letter, wasn’t slight"
— Mitchell Abramson (@nydnmabramson) June 3, 2015
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.
- GM Billy King says Brooklyn Nets not planning to buy out Deron Williams' contract - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Nets GM says team not preparing to buy out Deron's contract - Mitch Abramson - New York Daily News
- No plans to buy out Deron Williams' Nets contract - Al Iannazzone - Newsday
- Nets won’t cut Deron Williams to get out of luxury tax bind - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Nets Should Use ‘Stretch Provision’ On Deron Williams - Steve Lichtenstein - WFAN
- GEICO SportsNite: Billy King discusses the Nets and future of guard Deron Williams (Video) - SNY
- King is poised to give Nets fans more of the same - Brian Erni - SNY Nets
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Don’t expect big changes to come for Nets - Andy Vasquez - The Record
- Deron Williams won't be bought out, Nets GM says - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
- Brooklyn Nets - 2015 Draft Workouts - Day 3 (Video) - Brooklyn Nets
- Nets GM: No chance Deron Williams bought out; Lopez, Young re-signings priority - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports