New Jersey Nets PG Deron Williams has left the building! The Nets star has agreed in principle, to a deal that will become official in the next 24 hours, to play in Turkey for Club Besiktas. The deal has been confirmed through the team by Head Coach Ergin Ataman, after rumors began on Turkish television last evening.
The dollar signs of the deal have yet to be announced but the contract will include an "opt-out" clause, in the event that the lockout is lifted in the future. Williams a two-time All Star, who has two years remaining on a $34 million contract, hangs his need to play on the desire to win and stay active as his current team has building blocks that they need to address. After the Carmelo Anthony race fell through for the club, they have assured Williams that they will make a hard sell to Dwight Howard when he becomes a free-agent this summer. So we shall see exactly what happens when the lockout is lifted.
The Besiktas team is the same team that signed former NBA star Allen Iverson to a two year deal that became a fiasco of injuries and ultimately a second retirement for Iverson. Besiktas President Seref Yalcin will be in the U.S. for a press conference to announce the signing next week with Williams. Coah Ataman added “If there’s a possibility, we’ll talk with Kobe if he’d like to play in Europe with Deron and with other guys to play we can talk with him,” Ataman said. “If Kobe would like to play with us, we will also contact his agent and maybe with him.”
Ahhhh, as the life of a pro athlete turns!!
Former NBA great Allen Iverson has been rumored in the last 48 hours to be leaning towards retiring from his beloved game of basketball, although his club has NOT been informed of such decision.
Iverson, 35, has been playing in Turkey this season for Besiktas Cola Turkey where the guard has posted averages of 14.3ppg & 4.7apg. Recently he suffered an ankle injury that could sideline him for 6-8 weeks, allowing him to return before the end of the season that winds down in late June but he has elected to return to the States and have the operation because he cannot endure the pain of the injury any longer. Speaking to HoopsWorld Iverson stated "Leaving the basketball world makes me sad, but sometimes we have to accept things like they are. I can say goodbye to basketball."
I'm not sure whether its the injury, his age, working in a foreign land for the first time in his career, alcohol, gambling, missing his family or just selfishness that has brought Iverson to yet another weird crossroad in his life, but the weirdness continues. I wish the man a speedy recovery and hopeful induction into the NBA/College Halls of Fame in years to come.
