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Dimes and Disappointment: Deron Williams and the Brooklyn Nets

By Charles Daye

Feb 28, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) smiles from the court prior to the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) smiles from the court prior to the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Brooklyn Nets forward Kris Humphries (43), guard Deron Williams (8) and center Brook Lopez (11) celebrate in the second half against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Nets defeated the Suns 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Brooklyn Nets forward Kris Humphries (43), guard Deron Williams (8) and center Brook Lopez (11) celebrate in the second half against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Nets defeated the Suns 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Hello Brooklyn

The Nets signed Williams to a five-year $98 million deal in July of 2012 to complete their move to Brooklyn. Following the failed trade for Dwight Howard, the Nets traded for All-Star Joe Johnson and resigned Lopez. Williams and Johnson were marketed as the Brooklyn Backcourt, complete with press conference and fanfare.

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The first season in Brooklyn was a roller coaster ride, not only for Williams, but for the Nets organization. Williams was dealing with bad ankles, which required cortisone shots and platelet-rich plasma treatments. Avery Johnson was fired in December after winning Coach of the Month, which only added fuel to the fire of the “coach killer” perception Williams still had. It didn’t help that Williams publicly criticized Johnson’s offense after praising the offense he ran in Utah under Sloan.

Williams averaged 18.9 points, 7.7 assists, three rebounds, and one steal in 78 games for the inaugural Brooklyn season. The Nets went 49-33, finishing second in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

The Nets played the Chicago Bulls in the first round. The series would go the distance with the Nets losing Game Seven at home. Despite the disheartening loss at home, Williams played at an All-Star level in his first post-season appearance with the Nets, averaging 20.6 points and 8.4 assists per game.

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Williams, Johnson and Lopez showcased why they were the “Big Three” for Brooklyn. Essentially, they were the Nets’ only offense. Wallace and Kris Humphries/Reggie Evans contributed less than 10 points combined in the series against Chicago.

This led to the Nets management/ownership to believe they were only two pieces away from a deep playoff run. If they could add scoring to the forward positions, they would be real contenders in the East. What ensued was the infamous Boston trade in the 2013 offseason, when the Nets acquired future Hall-of-Famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett from the Celtics, leading to incredibly high expectations for the 2013-14 season.