Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
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Deron Williams is who we thought he was.
A malcontent.
That, of course, is my own opinion.
But, watching Deron Williams mail in his performance Monday against the Jazz disgusted me on behalf of New Jersey.
Not management, not Deron's teammates, not owner Mikhail Prokhorov, but the entire state of New Jersey, who was intoxicated and enamored by a player that can do it all.
Then New Jersey got kicked in the teeth.
Deron can score, dish, stay healthy and win. He can dominate Chris Paul in head to head matchups.
Until he doesn't.
Until you realize that your team gave up Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter (the lottery pick that turned into Turkish gold), Devin Harris and the possibility of Golden State's 2012 first round pick.
On Monday's broadcast on Root Sports, Jazz analyst and former DWill teammate Matt Harpring had some pointed criticism for Deron.
"Boy, he looks disinterested. He doesn't even look like he's really into the game. The Jazz are doing a good job of making him frustrated," said Harpring. " He had a bad game in Salt Lake, back in January, 3 of 15 (FG). Again, tonight he's struggling. He just doesn't know what is going on."
One of my favorite shows on television is Mad Men. Don Draper runs an ad agency and his protege is Peggy Olson. Don won an award for his advertising and Peggy is complaining about not getting enough recognition for the work she has done.
Don Draper: That's how this works. I pay you for ideas.
Peggy Olson: You never say ‘thank you'.
Don Draper: That's what the money is for!
That's what the money is for, Deron.
I don't care that your team is terrible. You make $16,359,805. I don't care that you are unhappy. You are paid to do a job. Play basketball to the best of your abilities.
Harpring continued, "When you are one foot in and one foot out, like I think Deron Williams is, you're going to put up a stat line like he's got tonight." Williams was 7 for 21 from the field against the Jazz, alternating between bouts of frustration and apathy.
"That's not the DWill that Jazz fans are accustomed to seeing." said Harpring.
Well, it kind of is.
Watching Deron sulk and pout is not something new to Jazz fans. Overall, he put up good numbers, but his mercurial behavior led to distrust. Jazz management couldn't afford to roll the dice on whether Deron would re-sign with the Jazz. That distrust led to a legal assault on the New Jersey franchise. Youth, veteran, money and draft picks. If David Stern had a heart, he would have vetoed this trade.
While the Jazz have a bright future, Williams appears to be playing out his contract until he can use his early termination clause (ETO) and leave New Jersey for greener pastures after this abbreviated season.
Playing for a loser, of course, is more difficult than playing for a winner. However, we saw the same behavior from Williams when he was winning a lot of games with the Jazz.
"I talked to him before the game." said Harpring, "He's disappointed, obviously, that something bigger didn't go down at the trade deadline. I think he was expecting something and then he's like you know, ‘My whole career I've been playing in front of fans. My high school games were all crowded and the games were all exciting, college was exciting, Utah Jazz, the fans were great. It was exciting every game and then you come here and you look at the atmosphere and it's hard to get motivated.'"
That's a nice excuse, but like Mr. Draper said, "That's what the money is for."
If you are making nearly $16.5 million dollars to play basketball, pour cement, or pull weeds; you owe it to your employer to give it your best. Attitude included. At least, as long as you are under contract.
Despite the attitude and poor play, the talent is there and if we've learned anything about the NBA, talent will trump reason when it comes to free agents.
"He's going to be able to go wherever he wants, that is the bottom line... Love or hate Deron Williams, you can't dispute the fact that he's a great player. He's one of the best point guards in this league. Just like Kobe Bryant, you love or hate Kobe Bryant. Stats, numbers, don't lie."
Nor does the body of work lie. After seeing what has happened to the poor New Jersey Nets, I counsel Deron's next employer.
Buyer beware.
