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Deron Williams returns to Dallas. What should we expect? Photo credit: Mavs.com

After a nightmarish start to NBA free agency this summer, the Dallas Mavericks have finally landed an All-Star player in Deron Williams. How big of an impact will the local kid make in his hometown?

by Rodney Fisher



Well...It took a couple of years, two colossal misses on big men, a steal from the Houston Rockets, and a tumultuous relationship with Rajon Rondo to finally get the local kid to come home.

Deron Williams has been on the Mavs free agent radar since 2012 offseason. . Despite putting together their best recruiting effort to woo the point guard to sign with them, he chose a 5-year, $99 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets. When the Nets opted to buyout the remaining $47 million for only $27.5 million to get their luxury tax situation under control. They also spread the payments out over five years, allowing the Mavs to get him for a 2-year, $10 million discount deal.

Deron Williams and Bracey Wright during their The Colony
high school days. Photo credit Irvin Thompson

Williams, alongside Bracey Wright, led The Colony as far as the Texas state semi-finals in his junior year. He would graduate to play at the University of Illinois, then enter the NBA as the third overall pick by the Utah Jazz in 2005. He also has two gold medals from the 2008 and 2015 summer Olympic teams.

Injuries and attitude have been the only knocks on his career.

Injuries have led to a decline in production in all statistical categories important to playing point guard in the NBA. In his first year with the Nets he averaged 21ppg and 8.7apg. Last season, his worst since his rookie season, he averaged 13ppg and 6apg.

Attitude has become the first topic of discussion about D Will. The rampant speculation that he was the reason the Jazz and longtime coach Jerry Sloan parted ways. The new speculation of a closed-door altercation with Nets head coach Lionel Hollins. There are also rumors from former teammates about Deron's temperament and lackadaisical effort at times.

He took flack from everyone after going scoreless in Game 2 of the playoffs against the Miami Heat in 2014.

Deron Williams missed two wide-open 3s, a wide-open 2, blew a fastbreak and had two weak layups blocked. That's not Heat D. That's on him.

— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) May 9, 2014

Yet, despite all the bad publicity. The home team is ecstatic to resurrect the game of the home grown talent.

"I'm a longtime fan. When this situation popped up, it was almost like it was too good to be true. He's a tremendous player, and he's coming home." - Rick Carlisle, courtesy of ESPN.com

The point guard has always been the biggest position in Carlisle's offense. The Mavs do not run set plays in his "free-flowing" offense that he prefers to play. This puts a tremendous amount of responsibility on the point guard to dictate tempo and call the right sets. It takes a smart, attentive player to make it all work. Jason Kidd and JJ Barea could do it...Rondo could not.

There is no question that Williams has the skill level to run this team. During his three consecutive All-Star selection seasons, 2009-2012, everyone debated if he was the best PG in the league. Lately, we saw flashbacks of those years with a 35pt performance in the playoffs to even the series with the #1 seed Atlanta Hawks.

He can still ball...

Players don't normally return to their hometown to play. The pressures of friends, families, and expectations are usually to much for a player to make the decision to return. The 30+ tickets you have to secure for every home game, the countless hands extended asking for a favor are real problems for professional athletes. But, when you are looking to change the public perception and bounce back there is nothing like home.

The opportunity is big for both the player and the team. With the loss of Monta Ellis, the Mavs will allow D-Will to be more than just a good passer. He will have to be a part of the scoring combination with Chandler Parsons, Wes Matthews, and occasionally Dirk Nowitzki. Matthews and Parsons health concerns would mean Deron will have get the season going on his own for a while, so his imprint could be big.

For Deron, he gets the elusive chance to hit the restart button once again with another franchise in another city. This city happens to be his hometown. If that doesn't make you want to turn things around...I don't know what would.