Deron Williams News

"Deron Williams isn't reserved when it comes to his role as a backup point guard on the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team.He's content to play behind starting point guard Jason Kidd, come off the bench and contribute however possible.He shares credit for his successes to his all-NBA teammates.And he's anxious to drive and dish whenever called upon.Williams is joined by fellow reserve point Chris Paul - sometimes with the two splitting time as Kidd's backup, and sometimes with the two sharing the backcourt at the Nos. 1 and 2 positions, with Williams manning the latter."I don't think he (Kidd) wants to play 30 minutes a game," said Williams, "so me and Chris are there to give him a spell ..."

"They caught each other's eye as they emerged from locker rooms on opposite sides of the hall, stepping through throngs of Chinese reporters and a smattering of international journalists to acknowledge, embrace and whisper - first privately a hotel room number in order to meet up later that night, and then share words of encouragement.

Just like you'd expect from teammates, rather than opponents.

For 40 minutes Sunday afternoon at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, the Utah Jazz frontline tandem of Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko were just that - teammates-turned-foes.

Actually, the Jazz combo was really a trio in the Shanghai spotlight Sunday afternoon, with Boozer and Utah ..."

"Deron Williams had four points and two assists while Carlos Boozer totaled five points and three rebounds as the U.S. flattened Turkey over the final three quarters Thursday in a 114-82 victory on their Olympic warm-up tour in Macau. Both Willams and Boozer did all their scoring in the fourth quarter. Williams again played as an off guard while Chris Paul played point guard off the bench for the U.S. LeBron James scored 20 points with six rebounds, five steals and four assists in his return from a mild ankle sprain. The U.S. will play Lithuania on Friday (6 a.m. MDT) in Macau. The U.S. hammered Turkey 83-52 the final three quarters after leading only ..."

"He is off now on a monthlong tour, one which %u2014 if all goes as planned %u2014 will have Jazz point guard Deron Williams and his 11 Team USA teammates wearing Olympic gold around their necks by this time in August.As much as the upcoming Summer Games in China mean to Williams and his fellow Americans, however, the point guard's heart remains in Utah.Williams made that much clear two-plus weeks ago, when he signed a contract extension with the Jazz that could be worth about $70 million and keep him here through at 2013.In doing so, Williams validated the notion that the franchise will have his fingerprints all over it for years to come.On the court, and off.On, he's sounding more and ..."

"Friday's signing set the team's course for the foreseeable future. Securing Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver next year will certainly be important. But none of it would have mattered if Williams hadn't re-upped. Not only is he the straw that stirs the drink, he's the glass that holds it. Remove him and you're just pouring liquid on a table."

"Point guard Deron Williams made a long-term commitment to the Jazz on Friday, signing a multiyear contract extension that could keep him in Utah through 2013. Shortly after he did, Williams made a plea for All-Star power forward and fellow Team USA Olympian Carlos Boozer — who is eligible to opt out of the final season of his six-year, $68 million contract next offseason — to make a similar commitment. We've talked about it since I've been here. He said his main thing was he probably wouldn't stay if I wasn't here — if I wasn't signing an extension, Williams said."

"The signature on his new contract extension had barely had time to dry at Friday afternoon's news conference before Deron Williams moved on to talk of closing another deal and bringing the Jazz's first championship to Utah. Even if there's no guarantee of how many of his current teammates will be around for that day, Williams couldn't help but exude confidence about what can be done in the years he's committed to continue playing for the Jazz. Having concluded that the Jazz's "track record speaks for itself," Williams signed a three-year extension with a fourth-year option that will pay him between $50 million and $70 million and keep him in Utah at least through the ..."

"In three years at the University of Illinois, Deron Williams became a huge part of a basketball team that reached the NCAA championship game. In three years in Utah, Williams has helped the Jazz re-establish themselves as consistent winners and made himself into an Olympic athlete and, as of Friday, a max-contract player in the NBA. Imagine what he might do with another five years. That's the window he's giving himself to "accomplish what we want to accomplish," Williams said, while outlining how near the Jazz are to winning a championship - that would be "very close," by his calculation - and explaining the mathematical formula he's using to describe what's ahead ..."

"Part of the Jazz's future is now wonderfully clear. The rest remains terribly blurry. Deron Williams' contract extension is the centerpiece of the Jazz's 2008 offseason, a $50 million (or more) development that gives the point guard and his team some security. Of course, everybody knew Williams was going to re-sign with the Jazz this month. So the only trouble with this resolution it is leaves so many other issues unanswered. Everything's cloudy regarding the long-term futures of center Mehmet Okur and forwards Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko, thanks to the team's obvious inability to pay all of them at market value forever."

"From the beginning, Deron Williams told Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor that he wanted to reach an agreement on a contract extension before he left for USA Basketball training camp in Las Vegas and headed from there to the Olympics. Not only did he get his wish, Williams will have plenty to talk about with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul. He followed their lead in agreeing Thursday to a three-year extension with a fourth-year option instead of one for a full five years."

"The Utah Jazz and point guard Deron Williams will make an announcement of agreement on a contract extension during a news conference that will be held Friday. "There's going to be a great announcement tomorrow afternoon in Salt Lake City," said Williams' agent, Bob McClaren, from his Houston office. "One that will make everyone happy, I think." The Jazz and Williams' camp have been discussing an extension on Williams' rookie contract since the negotiating period for doing so opened July 1."

"Beyond Deron Williams' brief family vacation to Mexico earlier this month, general manager Kevin O'Connor shed no light Tuesday as to what is holding up agreement on a contract extension between the Jazz and their Team USA point guard. He did, however, suggest dialogue between the sides continues. "We've had constant conversations," the Jazz GM said. "I respect what Bob (McClaren, Williams' agent) said, and I think I feel the same way," O'Connor added. "We're working toward a resolution." McClaren on Monday suggested daily progress is being made, and said "everybody's very committed to trying to put a deal together.""

"The agent for Jazz guard Deron Williams said Monday he has continued having conversations with general manager Kevin O'Connor and is still hopeful to reach agreement on a contract extension by the end of the week. "I think that's still everyone's objective," agent Bob McClaren said, "and I'm certainly not discouraged by the process at all." Williams has said he would like to finalize an extension before he leaves either Saturday or Sunday for USA Basketball training camp in Las Vegas. Williams will travel from there to Beijing for the Olympics."

"After meeting Wednesday with Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor, Deron Williams came away hopeful a contract extension could be finalized in the coming days, although Williams did express some concerns about the Jazz going forward. "Things went well," Williams said. "It's not a done deal yet, but some things just got to be ironed out, some things we're going back and forth on, so hopefully it can keep progressing from there.""

"Deron Williams said he met Wednesday with Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor and was optimistic a contract extension could be finalized in the coming days, although Williams did have some concerns about the Jazz's future direction. "It's not a done deal yet," said Williams, who made an appearance at the opening of a Sam's Club store in South Jordan, "but some things just got to be ironed out, some things we're going back and forth on, so hopefully it can keep progressing from there." Williams said the Jazz did talk about a maximum-value extension, which could pay him upwards of $90 million if he signed for the full five years."

"Though the Jazz's success over the next few years can't be guaranteed, Williams' spot on the team's roster could soon be locked up in a fat contract. Williams' representative, Bob McClaren, confirmed Tuesday night that he and the Jazz point guard will meet with Utah brass here at a still-to-be-determined time this week to begin negotiations on a long-term contract extension. "We're excited about accomplishing our goal of making Deron Williams part of the Jazz family for an even longer time ... ," McClaren said. "Deron wants to be part of the organization. He loves his teammates, the organization and the community very much.""

"The most striking thing about Deron Williams' recent press conference officially announcing his making the U.S. Olympic basketball team was the humility he showed in that moment. "It's an honor for me to represent my country," he said. "I'm thrilled to death." Those words didn't flow forth at the end of a disingenuous blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah kind of prepared statement. He seemed truly moved by the privilege, as though it really meant something to him. "It does," he says. There are times when Williams puts the con in confident, when he comes across as surly and bothered and petulant - "Sometimes, I am a jackass," he admits - and others when he's about as ..."

"He says he was pleased by the move, that it finally showed him the respect he had craved since being undersold, at least in his view, by so many coaches and observers through his basketball career. Williams had no problem going to Utah. "All I cared about was winning," he says. "I had four kids on my high school team who were Mormon. I knew them. They never seemed weird to me. I thought this was the best situation for me.""

"When the NBA's summer negotiating period opens late tonight, don't expect any immediate announcement of agreement on a contract extension between point guard Deron Williams and the Jazz. In fact, the two sides Jazz management, and Williams and his representation aren't expected to even meet face-to-face until sometime next week."

"A little past 10 p.m. Monday, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor can pick up the phone and set in motion the process through which Deron Williams can sign a long-term contract extension to stay in Utah. From July 1 until Oct. 31, the Jazz have an exclusive window to negotiate an extension to Williams' rookie contract. Under league rules, Williams could sign for as long as five years and as much as approximately $90 million. Williams would like to finalize the extension before he leaves for the Olympics on July 26. O'Connor is expected to call Williams' agent, Bob McLaren, late Monday and express an interest in meeting."

"For the Utah Jazz, a winning hand for its USA Basketball involvement in the 2008 Beijing Olympics is a pair of sevens. The Jazz duo of point guard Deron Williams and power forward Carlos Boozer, both of whom wore the USA jersey No. 7 the last time they played internationally, were among the 12 NBA players named Monday to represent the United States at the upcoming Summer Games."

"The United States basketball team will take a distinct Dallas area flavor to Beijing as it attempts to regain America's lost Olympic dominance. One-fourth of the 12 players named to the team on Monday have local ties. They are Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd and area high school products Chris Bosh of Lincoln and Deron Williams of The Colony. "I look forward to the challenge of winning a gold medal," said Kidd, who played on the 2000 gold-medal team in Sydney. As a veteran of five USA Basketball teams, he is 38-0 in international competition."

"The 12 members of the 2008 USA Basketball men's senior national team - which will represent the United States in the upcoming Beijing Olympics - will be announced this morning in a series of news conferences and teleconferences. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams are two of the 33 NBA players who make up the U.S. Select roster, which was compiled over the past several years and will be used to determine the Olympic roster. Williams and Boozer are expected to be named to the team headed to Beijing."

"The official announcement won't come until Monday, but USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo all but confirmed Friday that the Jazz's Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams will be making the trip to Beijing as members of the Olympic team."

"Makeup of USA Basketball's 2008 Olympic team continues to take shape, with all indications continuing to favor Jazz point guard Deron Williams and Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer making the 12-man roster for the upcoming Summer Games in China."

"Two Jazz stars - point guard Deron Williams and two-time NBA All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer - both have an increasingly likely shot at making USA Basketball's 12-man Olympic roster when it is unveiled Monday. ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported Tuesday that Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups has withdrawn from consideration for the team, citing undisclosed personal family issues. That makes Williams, who probably would have made it anyway, a virtual certainty for making his first Olympic team."

"Jazz guard Deron Williams might have locked up a spot on USA Basketball's Olympic team after Tuesday's news that Detroit's Chauncey Billups will not play this summer. According to an ESPN report, Billups contacted USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and informed him he would be unable to play because of personal family issues. Colangelo and U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski will announce at a Monday news conference the 12 players who will be making the trip to Beijing."

"Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams should learn soon, perhaps this week, if he made the U.S. Olympic basketball team. He is also just weeks away from being given the chance to break the bank with a max contract extension from the Jazz. But when Williams acknowledged to being jittery about the future on Monday morning, it had nothing to do with basketball. Instead, he was dreading his first shot in the pro-am portion of the Sorenson Champions Challenge golf tournament."

"The greatest male golfer of all time and the greatest female golfer of this generation will be on hand the next two days for the Sorenson Champions Challenge. But if you don't want to see Jack Nicklaus or Annika Sorenstam, perhaps you'd like to see long-drive champion Jason Zuback, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Craig Stadler, Dean Wilson, Mike Reid, Billy Casper, Dave Stockton, Ian Baker-Finch or Deron Williams. Deron Williams? Yup, the Jazz point guard will be playing Tuesday in a special "celebrity pairing" along with tournament sponsor Jim Sorenson, comedian Gary Mule Deer, professional Joe Taggart and amateur Steele DeWald."