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Mike Vorkunov: The Bucks decided to waive-and-stretch the $112.6 million owed to Damian Lillard. That's not only the largest stretch-waive ever in NBA history, it's more than the total sum of the 3 previous largest stretch-waive contracts I could find (Joakim Noah, Deron Williams and Nic Batum)
Carlos Boozer strode confidently through Zions Bank Basketball Center, the Utah Jazz training facility. Once upon a time, he walked this space as a player. Those were his All-Star days. His Olympian days. The days of Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko and the late, great Jerry Sloan. The days of Utah’s powder blue uniform. Today, Boozer is back with the organization, and, along with Avery Bradley, is a key cog in a front office tasked with selecting the fifth pick in Wednesday night’s NBA Draft. Utah’s war room will be different for Boozer, not only because he’s no longer a player, but also because the building has undergone renovations since his playing days. And we’re talking about a front office that has transitioned in general managers from Kevin O’Connor to Dennis Lindsey, to Justin Zanik, to Danny Ainge, and now to Austin Ainge.
HoopsHype reported Wednesday that Carlos Boozer is “expected to join the Jazz organization as a scout." While the Jazz hadn’t officially confirmed the news as of Wednesday afternoon, it appears to be true, as prospect Milos Uzoh confirmed Boozer gave him feedback along with the rest of the Jazz’s front office in a workout last week. Boozer, longtime Jazz fans will remember, was a two-time All-Star in his six years with Utah. From 2004-10, Boozer averaged 19.3 points and 10.5 rebounds for the team, pushing them, along with teammate Deron Williams, to a Western Conference Finals berth in 2007.
NBA Central: Deron Williams reveals that he wanted to play for the Lakers during his prime. “I wanted to play with Kobe.” 👀🔥 (Via @ThePlayersTV ) pic.twitter.com/qBdhEfGosd
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ClutchPoints: "Kyrie is the most skilled player I’ve ever seen, as far as just pure skill. There’s nothing on the offensive end that he can’t do… He’s a wizard with the basketball.” Deron Williams gives Kyrie Irving his flowers 💐 (via @ThePlayersTV) pic.twitter.com/ew327EY0vo
"Kyrie is the most skilled player I’ve ever seen, as far as just pure skill. There’s nothing on the offensive end that he can’t do… He’s a wizard with the basketball.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 14, 2024
Deron Williams gives Kyrie Irving his flowers 💐
(via @ThePlayersTV)pic.twitter.com/ew327EY0vo
Jorge Sierra: Players Donovan Mitchell (age 27) passed in playoff scoring yesterday: Carlos Boozer Deron Williams Lamar Odom Bailey Howell Chris Bosh Vinnie Johnson Not bad at all. He's No. 144 all-time now.
How did you find out about the Deron Williams trade, and what was your reaction? Derrick Favors: I was 19 at the time. The funny thing about that is as soon as I got drafted around training camp and preseason time, that was the Carmelo Anthony trade talks where New Jersey wanted Carmelo. I had to deal with those trade rumors up to February. Once Melo got traded to the Knicks, I relaxed because I thought maybe my name wouldn’t be in more trade rumors. Then the Deron Williams trade happens with Utah the next day or two. I found out when I think I was told to go home by the assistant GM right after the All-Star break. I didn’t know what was going on, and I don’t think anybody knew. Then, it just happened right there on ESPN.
Misko Raznatovic, Europe's leading basketball agent who represents Nikola Jokic, shared a story of how he helped three-time NBA All-Star Deron Williams to make a transfer to Besiktas Istanbul during the NBA lockout in 2011. All it took were 15 games for Williams to have his No. 8 jersey retired by Besiktas after averaging 21.8 points and 6.5 assists during his stay in Istanbul, which came to an end with the NBA lockout settled. "This is a very crazy story. At that time, I did not follow NBA basketball. Really, I did not," Raznatovic started, via the EXTRA SMOKE podcast, co-hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. "I had no players [in the NBA], games at three o'clock in the morning, I cannot.
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"I know that my partner Jeff Schwartz has Jason Kidd. I told him about Jason Kidd, and the coach was excited. I called Jeff and said, 'Give me him.' He said, 'No, he [Jason] is not interested. He is older. But take Deron Williams.' "I have to say I have never heard of Deron Williams," Raznatovic continued. "I closed the phone and said like, 'I am asking him for Lamborghini, he is offering me Ford.' But okay, let's check this guy. I take a look at his profile, wow. 25 points per game, multiple All-Star. I call coach, 'Hey, Jason Kidd said no, but I have another one.' A reaction was not so good but three minutes later, his reaction was a copy-paste of my reaction. I was like, 'Let's bring him.' "So, we brought the guy. I met him in Istanbul, a great guy. Even though he stayed for only two months, he left there a lot, grew everything up here. At the end of the day, they [Besiktas] won the Turkish championship. Nobody ever expected that before the season."
What's more, Lamar Odom, another NBA star, could have come to Turkey and joined Williams at Besiktas. "This story has a continuation," the well-known agent said. "It worked really well for one month and a half, and the coach told me, 'We have money again, bring me a big guy.' I said immediately, 'Lamar Odom.' He said, 'Done.'
Khobi Price: Deron Williams takes Magic second-year forward Franz Wagner with the No. 2 pick in the Rising Stars draft.
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