Report: Suns out of Deron Williams race
Jun 25, 2012, 5:38 PM | Updated: 6:48 pm
If they were in it before, they’re out of it now.
The Phoenix Suns, rumored to be interested in Nets free
agent Deron Williams in the event Steve Nash leaves, are
apparently not on the star’s short list of preferred
destinations.
According to ESPN.com, the three-time All-Star
has narrowed his choices down to staying with the Nets or
signing with his hometown Dallas Mavericks.
Other teams, including the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail
Blazers and Houston Rockets, had been hoping to lodge
their own bids for Williams once free agency begins,
sources said. The Los Angeles Lakers, likewise have
continued to express interest in a sign-and-trade package
built around Pau Gasol for Williams, sources say, despite
the Nets’ longstanding insistence that they have no
interest in Gasol and would only consider such a move if
they were getting back All-Star center Andrew Bynum, whom
the Lakers have not made available.
Ahh well, it was fun while it lasted. But really, did
anyone expect the Suns to have a shot at the guy? Yes,
they would have had the requisite cap space, but chances
are good the team would not have been able to offer
something else Williams craves: a shot at winning a title.
So, the Suns will have to bank on keeping Nash around,
otherwise their situation at point guard could get a
little murky. Other options include Portland’s Raymond
Felton, Los Angeles’ Ramon Sessions and Houston’s Goran
Dragic — the last of whom the Suns have been linked
to — but for now we don’t know who will be running
the team’s offense next season.
We just know one guy who won’t.