via Ric Bucher — 2012 NBA free agency — Deron Williams to meet with Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks reps Monday, source says:
Deron Williams, the most coveted player in this summer’s free agent class, will meet with representatives from the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks on Monday before deciding which team to sign with this July, according to a source privy to Williams’ plan.
Mavericks free-agent point guard Jason Kidd will also join whichever team Williams chooses, sources said.
Kidd, who has indicated that he hopes to serve as a backup to Williams either in Brooklyn or Dallas, also recently purchased a home in East Hampton, a source close to Kidd said.
Standard caveat: Bucher is a well-connected guy, and I trust his reporting, but as always, anonymous reports deserve heaping grains of salt.
Deron Williams has personally expressed a desire to make a decision quickly, before the Olympics begin. Makes sense that he’d meet with reps from both interested teams early. And considering that Jason Kidd’s got strong ties to both Dallas and Brooklyn, it similarly makes sense that he’d end up at either destination. And as Tim Bontempts notes, that makes Brooklyn an easier draw.
Teams can officially begin negotiations at midnight tonight.
