From Jazzy to Jersey.

As it turns out, New Jersey had another trick up its sleeve after all.  A day after failing to land Carmelo Anthony, it was announced that the Nets had acquired Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams in exchange for Devin Harris, Derek Favors, two first-round draft picks and cash.



Seriously, what's with the pose?

When it comes to NBA trades and all that good stuff, you kind of learn to expect the unexpected.  Carmelo to the Knicks was no secret.  While LeBron held us "captive" during his 1 hour special, the word had spread that he would indeed be "taking his talents" to South Beach.  By the time he announced his "decision", it was mere formality.

However, dealing Deron Williams to the Nets?  I did not see that coming.  Like I said, I "expect the unexpected", but I had no clue it would be going down, at least not like this.  It seems that there's someone out there who knows something that we don't.  How often do you hear of a team, in the midst of a playoff race, trade it's cornerstone player?  From what I understand, Williams' contract expires after this season, so you'd understand why the Jazz would not part ways with him and get nothing in return.

Trading him to the Nets though?  Even despite Carlos Boozer's departure in the off-season, Utah still remain a playoff contender with Williams on the team.  Without him on the team?  I'm not sure that I can explain it in twenty words or less.  Here goes.  Without Williams on the team, Utah will most likely go back to what they were before the "Stockton to Malone" era.  Okay, I'll admit it, so Utah had a decent run when Adrian Dantley was around, but they weren't turning heads like they did with Stockton and Malone.  I'll give Dantley his due, he helped put the franchise on the map following its relocation to Utah from New Orleans. 

Stockton-to-Malone; can't mention one without the other

Little was known about John Stockton when the Jazz drafted him out of Gonzaga in 1984.  Karl Malone who was drafted out of Louisiana Tech the following year, admitted on his own that he initially didn't even want to play for Utah (he was hoping to be drafted by Dallas) when they acquired him.  Together, they became one of the best "one-two" tandems the league has ever seen.  The lack of an NBA title does not diminish the impact they had on the league; blame that on Michael Jordan.

Following both Stockton and Malone's departure in 2003, Utah went through a rebuilding phase and it would be another three seasons before they would make the playoffs.  When Boozer and Williams teamed up (along with other key players, but that's not the point) and led the Jazz to the 2007 Conference finals, it felt like the reincarnation of Stockton and Malone; Boozer was emerging as a dominant post player, and Williams was beginning to earn a reputation as one of the better point guards (this in just his second season).  Together, they would lead Utah to the playoffs for 4 straight seasons, before Boozer joined the Bulls last July.

"Stockton-to-Malone" Part II, never really came to fruition

If you were to say that Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA, there might be little disagreement, if any at all.  Of course, you'll have your Rajon Rondo fans, Tony Parker fans and your Chris Paul fans; but all will agree that Williams is an elite point guard.  And like I said earlier, as long as he was around, Utah were a playoff contender.

However, trading him to the Nets still has me scratching my head a little (probably because it hurts less).  The Nets who had enjoyed some of their best seasons with Jason Kidd running show, fell on hard times after trading him to Dallas in 2008.  New Jersey went from "perennial playoff contender" to "cellar dwellers" following the transaction.

Having Williams on board, along with a move to Brooklyn should help the Nets attract potential free agents.  We already know that they won't be making the playoffs this season, so all eyes will be shifted toward the off-season.  They key to any success however, depends on whether they'll be able to sign Williams to a longterm contract.

Utah currently sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, but this move coupled with Jerry Sloan's resignation a few weeks ago, signals that they are in rebuilding mode.  I don't see them making the playoffs, at least this season; but then again, what do I know.  I remember the Houston Rockets going on a 22 game win streak in 2008, after losing Yao Ming for the remainder of the season.  I also remember the same Rockets (sans McGrady, Mutombo and Yao Ming) pushing the L.A. Lakers to 7 games in 2009.

While I'm predicting that there may be some lean years ahead for Utah, I don't know exactly how better off New Jersey are with this trade.  We'll check back in a few years and see how things turned out.