So far a couple of NBA players have decided to play overseas, but yesterday a NBA star decided to play overseas for the time being. Current superstar for the New Jersey Nets Deron Williams has reached a one-year deal with the Turkish club Besitktas. Williams signed with the same club that former NBA star Allen Iverson played for in the past.
Williams commitment to the Turkish club will begin on September 1st and their first game is on September 27th. At that point I still expect the NBA lockout to be going on. In his contract he has an escape clause that allows him to return to the NBA, when the lockout ends. The way things sound the NBA lockout might be for half a season or a whole season, so who knows Williams might be playing in Turkey for a while.
Ergin Ataman is the head coach for Besitktas; this is what he had to say about the signing of Williams “ It’s the biggest signing in the history of European Basketball “.
According to Chris Broussard of ESPN The Magazine Williams’ deal will be $5 million for one year. Ataman told SI.com that an unknown sponsor would pay for Williams deal.
Williams has $34 million and two years left on his contract with the Nets, but since the NBA is in a lockout he is really free to sign anywhere else. If there’s a lockout, the players are free; their contracts are suspended, It’s that simple.” Those where the words of NBA commissioner David Stern.
I think it is a good idea for Williams to play in Turkey. I mean it will keep him in great physical shape and keep him out of trouble. The NBA lockout could end anytime and some players wouldn’t be ready because they weren’t staying in shape. It might take certain players a longer time to get back into basketball shape. Williams will have an advantage over most of the players, because he will already have been in basketball shape. Williams will also get paid for playing in Turkey, he will be getting an extra 5 million, hey why not make more money while you can. If he would sit around and wait on the NBA lockout he might not get paid at all. The only risk in this decision is of course injury. The way I look at it though; is he could get hurt doing anything this summer. He could get hurt preparing for the NBA season, he could hurt working around his house you just never know. So Williams can’t worry about injury in Turkey, if it happens it happens so be it.
Will more stars follow Williams to play overseas? It will get interesting in the upcoming days and months with the doom and gloom of the NBA lockout.
Tags: Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets
