Deron Williams unfazed by trade rumors

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Deron Williams would rather know than not know.

Williams learned of his last trade, the one that sent him to the New Jersey Nets in 2010 for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and two first-round draft picks, by watching ESPN’s SportsCenter while working out. So to find out that he might get traded in the early stages provided Williams a bit of relief.

“At least I get a little notice this time!” Williams joked to reporters Wednesday morning before the team took on the Chicago Bulls. “Instead of finding out on SportsCenter.

Williams added that he wasn’t fazed by the report, according to the New York Post:

“I’m not worried about it, man,” Williams said with a smile Wednesday morning following the Nets’ morning shootaround at the Moody Bible Institute ahead of their game against the Bulls. “I’m a Net until they tell me otherwise.

“It is what it is. It’s a business, so stuff like [trade rumors] happens. … I don’t see any problem [dealing with it]. Brook [Lopez] has dealt with it, so I don’t see it being a problem for him, and I don’t think Joe [Johnson is] too worried about it.”

The Nets have reportedly begun exploring trade options for their “Big 3” of Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez, following an 8-11 start and the team’s lack of championship-contending talent. The franchise’s façade has begun to crack, with even world-class teammate Kevin Garnett starting to hedge on faith, according to the New York Daily News.

If you didn’t know about the cynical state of the Nets, just ask Kevin Garnett whether there’s still belief in the locker room that this group can get it done.

“I mean. I don’t know how to answer that without being, you know,” he said.

The Nets take on the Chicago Bulls in Chicago tonight, with Williams the only member of the “Big 3” to make the trip — Johnson is battling a stomach virus, while Lopez has a lower back strain. Meanwhile, the Nets may look to move Andrei Kirilenko, after a report by Yahoo! Sports that Kirilenko may get traded to the Philadelphia 76ers and subsequently bought out.