Williams stays with Nets; signs 5-year, $100M deal

After months of intrigue about his future, Deron Williams took to Twitter to announce where he will be playing next season.

“Made a very tough decision today....” Williams wrote, including a photo of the new Brooklyn Nets logo.


Suddenly, the Nets will enter Brooklyn relevant both in New York and in the Eastern Conference.

The superstar point guard’s decision to re-sign with the Nets Tuesday for a five-year contract for roughly $100 million, the maximum salary allowed under the salary cap, ensures Williams will be the unquestioned face of the franchise as it transitions to Brooklyn this fall.

he Nets, who were able to offer an extra year and over $25 million in salary more than any other team, only ever had serious competition from one other team: Williams’ hometown Dallas Mavericks. Both teams met with Williams in the New York metropolitan area Monday before the Nets won out.

Nets general manager Billy King took a huge risk when — after failing to land Carmelo Anthony — he acquired Williams from the Jazz in February 2011 for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and two additional lottery picks, even though Williams could test free agency this summer without ever playing a game in the team’s new Brooklyn home. But that risk paid off, when Williams committed to the franchise for the foreseeable future.