Nets are praying that where there's D-Will, there's a way

On the ball: Deron Williams is expected to play tonight after training with a slight wrist injury yesterday

13 April 2012

New Jersey Nets are having to familiarise themselves with new surroundings in London this week at the same time as getting to know star signing Deron Williams.

Arguably the NBA's best point-guard, Williams was traded by Utah Jazz to the Nets 24 hours before last week's deadline but the 26-year-old's first three games have ended in defeat, including last-gasp overtime heartbreak against Phoenix Suns in Monday's home debut.

D-Will's next outings are against the Toronto Raptors at London's 02 Arena tonight and tomorrow and the 6ft 3ins Beijing Olympics gold medalist is excited about the transatlantic visit.

"I know there's a lot of talk about there being an NBA Europe someday and this is a step in that direction," he said. "I love London as a city. I'll be playing next summer in the Olympics here, so it's a little warm-up for me."

Williams learned he had been traded while watching television with team-mates. Players have little say in deals and the Nets have bought out his Jazz contract, which has less than two years remaining, in the hope that he will buy into their impressive long-term plans and sign an extension.

It is a risky move for owner Mikhail Prokhorov, a Russian oligarch with more wealth than Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, as the Nets are unlikely to progress far if they reach the play-offs this term and next season is under threat from a lock-out over the NBA's new collective bargaining deal.

"It wasn't that I was unhappy - I was just shocked; it was unexpected," said Williams. "When you don't hear any rumours, and then you're getting treatment with your team-mates and you learn that you just got traded. There's an initial shock. Once I got on the phone with [general manager] Billy King, I started to feel better.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about going to a team with 17 wins; that was my first process. But once I talked to Billy, that reassured me how committed they were.

"It's difficult but I look forward to the challenge, to help lead this team to the play-offs this year. Next year, we'll get a fresh start but the play-offs aren't out of the question this year."

Prokhorov had long been linked with a move for another NBA superstar, Carmelo Anthony, as he sought a marquee name to lead the team to their new billion-dollar stadium in Brooklyn in 2012. The owner is understood to have courted LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh last summer before all three signed for Miami Heat but when he lost out to New York rivals, the Knicks, in the chase for Anthony at the beginning of last week, he quickly tied up a deal for Williams.

The Nets gave up Devin Harris and Derrick Favors, two future first-round draft picks, and around $3million dollars to the Jazz for Williams and coach Avery Johnson is delighted with his changed roster, which also includes new signings Dan Gadzuric and Brandan Wright.

He said: "Rarely are you able to trade for someone who is arguably the best at his position. We felt we needed to get someone who was going to give us a little swagger. Sometimes, you have to try things to get better. Whatever his strengths are, we're going to play to them."

Team-mate Kris Humphries has backed Williams to settle quickly, despite having to leave his wife and children in Utah after the trade.

Humphries, who played with Williams in Utah before linking up with him again last week, said: "We expect him to perform better and better as we get used to each other. It takes time and it's tough because the point guard controls the flow of the game.

"It's a brand new offence for him. We spent the whole season playing a certain way and now we have to get used to a new offence and defence."

Nets are praying that where there's D-Will, there's a way

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