My ambivalence on the Deron Williams Trade
UPDATE: Shortly after I posted this, ESPN posted another story (ESPN.com) airing the same grievances I have.
I have both good and bad feelings about this trade. Let's start with the good. The Jazz were in a bad situation poised to get worse. We were going to be MeloDrama part II and it was not going to end up pretty. Deron has continually expressed his frustration with the coaching staff and front office. With no real prospects of improving the team on the horizon, it was all but sure that Deron was aiming to jump ship. When I saw Deron picked to play in the All-Star Game, I cringed a bit because it was just to remind him that Utah only has one star and is not going to attract any more. Just like Deron said, Utah just is not a destination where stars want to play. He tried to bring in some big names himself (I ask myself who, but I believe him) but was unsuccessful. The point is this: Utah was stuck in mediocrity. We did not have the supporting cast around Deron to win it all and yet we were not bad enough to get any of the impact players from the draft. We were stuck in rut where we were a perpetual low-seeded playoff team.
Where did that leave us then? In a very Cavaliers, Raptors, and Denver like situation. Or at least we were approaching those situations. The former two gambled that on their stars' loyalties while the the latter took matters into its hands and decided to trade their star before he could bolt leaving them empty-handed, albeit he exerted control over most of the situation by dictating whether or not he would sign an extension. I can see the wisdom of the Jazz front-office by taking the control out of the player's hands and controlling their own destiny. Deron has a year-and-a-half (possibly less due to the impending lockout) left on his contract which means that teams are willing to take him still without a guaranteed contract extension. This firmly took D-Will's will out of the equation, leaving all the power with the management. As such, the front-office was able to pick and choose their suitors without the player's veto power and thus we able to achieve the best deal possible.
I really like the way John Hollinger, an ESPN columnist put it, "For Utah, this was an elegant way out of an inelegant situation" (ESPN.com, ESPN in subscription required). The Jazz were about to become the next Cavs or Nuggets and the Jazz instead decided to preempt it all and trade Williams while they could do it on their terms. And in return, we got a pretty sweet deal. We got Devin Harris, who is still a great point guard, albeit several notches below Williams, and rookie Derrick Favors, who has the promise of being a huge defensive boost for the lacking Jazz post defense.
The Jazz also made a savvy move and recognition: we are not an All-Star destination. We do not get marquee names. Al Jefferson and Devin Harris may be the the biggest names ever traded into Utah. If all this is true, how do the Jazz stay relevant? How can they? The simple answer is drafting. With arguably the best scouts in the league, our only chance to be a championship contender is to draft the best players. With that recognition, we took this opportunity to obtain two high draft picks, the New Jersey Nets' unprotected first round this coming year (which will be a top ten pick for sure) and Golden State's protected (top 7) pick next year (which is usually like a number 10 pick). In addition to our own picks this year, we are in a position to gather some young talent, and, if we draft well, re-enter the NBA's elite tier within a few years. Who knows, the Jazz could get...
I am not holding by breath. The Jazz typically are not the type to take a risk on a player like Jimmer.
While I have listed the reasons this is a good trade, I will post why I feel this was a bad omen for the NBA. Before I go there, I feel the whole situation is regrettable. D-Will was on his way to being Utah royalty, much like Pete Maravich, John Stockton, and Karl Malone, but because of the choices he made and the things he said, he will down as Donyell Marshall and Carlos Boozer have, traitors to the Jazz Nation.
What I find truly unsettling in this whole trade is what it means to the whole NBA. With the way things are going forth, a few teams are going to have a consolidation of powers and the rest of the NBA is going to be stuck with a few good roleplayers. It all started with LeBron and Bosh joining DWade and Carmelo heading to the Knicks is not going to help. In reality, this started with KG going to the C's. With Deron going to the Nets, the Nets are going to use this as leverage to acquire other stars, and if they are successful, expect to find all the NBA's top talent in Miami, New York, Chicago, and LA, leaving the rest us, especially in the smaller markets, out in the cold. Instead of the NBA being one of the most volatile and exciting professional sports league in the world, we are becoming European soccer where the same teams are always the best teams and the rest are just weekly doormats for them on their way to another championship. It is worrying indeed, and the more the NBA goes that way the more my personal interest and involvement will digress.
In conclusion, I appreciate what the Jazz did and honestly believe they made the best they could out a bad situation but fear its greater repercussions throughout the NBA. It likely the sign of a downward spiral and not the cause, but I hope I am wrong. I hope this is but a slight in the hiccup on the Jazz's way to their first championship.