Is The Writing On The Wall For Dallas & Deron Williams?
Following the championship run of 2011, Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks decided that it was not the right move towards the future to bring back Tyson Chandler at around $17 million per year. With an aging squad and an older super-star in Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs have taken a gamble and will hope to reload with a younger squad in the summer of 2012. This season, without Chandler and a few others from the championship team, the Mavs had their worst winning percentage in 13 years, at .545. Lamar Odom was nothing but a cancer, and the Mavs ended its season being swept for the very first time in a seven game series.
Clearly the Mavs are looking to overhaul the roster this offseason, with the contracts of Jason Terry and Jason Kidd ending after the season. While I do think the Mavs will resign Kidd to be a backup, I believe Terry will look towards free agency. I can almost assure you that Brendan Haywood will be given the amnesty clause, clearing nearly $9 million in cap space. Dallas might also look to release or trade Odom and Shawn Marion.
The big fish Dallas hopes to land are in the free agency market. While players like Chris Paul and Dwight Howard have re-signed with their teams, the jewel for the Mavs is still there for the taking. Deron Williams went to The Colony High School in northwest Dallas, and grew up an avid Texas Rangers and Mavs fan. He has certainly shown interest in the team over the years, and was even found in the Mavs locker room following their game five victory over the Heat in last years Finals.
The Mavericks cannot offer Williams a larger contract than the Brooklyn Nets, but what they can offer is a team which competes for championships, has one of the best owners in sports and, most importantly, gives Deron the chance to play for his hometown team.
Ultimately, I think Deron will wind up in Dallas, unless the Nets make a massive splash and trade for Dwight Howard or another superstar to help compete to get into the playoffs. After all, D-Will was traded to the Nets, not signed as a free agent. Despite moving to Brooklyn, the Nets are currently not competitive, and a player at the caliber of Williams needs to be on the biggest stage, for a team competing.
So don’t be surprised when July comes around and Deron Williams comes home.
Wisconsin Will Celebrate Aaron Rodgers Day On 12/12/12
There may be no person more famous in the state of Wisconsin than Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Number 12 for the beloved cheeseheads is beloved in Green Bay and across the state, so when a state representative proposed a statewide day in his honor, there was only one date that would be fitting: 12/12/12.
Packers fan Jennifer Brilowski made a Facebook group titled Let’s Make 12-12-12 Aaron Rodgers Day, and it got over 10,000 likes. Wisconsin State Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) drafted up a resolution in Madison and it passed, making the day official. “It’s a great appreciation that we have for Aaron being with the Green Bay Packers, not only for his actions on the field but for his actions off the field, which I think makes him a very special individual,” Bies said.
At the press conference, state legislators were all wearing Rodgers’ number 12 Packers jersey and superfan Brilowski presented him with an honorary plaque. Rodgers won’t be able to celebrate, since it’ll be the Wednesday before a big game against the Bears.
“Hopefully it won’t be just another day, but at that point in the season, it’s difficult to get through the grind, but I know this is going to make us — at least me, personally — reflect back on the last seven years,” Rodgers remarked. “I think it’s a great opportunity to get perspective on how a career and a way of living your life can have an impact on society.”
