Jazz fans have mixed feelings about trade of Williams

This article was published on 23rd February 2011 by http://sportsuniverse.byu.edu/?p=4015.

By Charles Krebs

The Utah Jazz traded two-time All-Star Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets in a franchise-changing deal on Wednesday.

Photo by Associated Press. Utah Jazz Deron Williams talks with the media after NBA basketball practice, Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, in Salt Lake City.

In exchange for Williams, the Nets handed over rookie forward Derrick Favors (6.3 ppg), who was picked third overall in the draft last year, and point guard Devin Harris (15.0 ppg), the 5th pick in the 2004 draft and a one-time All-Star.

The Jazz also received two first-round draft picks in the deal – one for 2011 from the Nets and one for 2012 from Golden State – along with $3 million.

Williams’ contract was set to expire at the end of the 2011-2012 season, with an option to stay one more year if he desired.

The Jazz lost Jerry Sloan, their 23-year head coach, two weeks ago and Williams faced criticism that he was part of Sloan’s decision to leave, although both deny the claims.

Jazz fans have mixed feelings about the loss of Williams, who has played for Utah since he was drafted third overall in 2005.

BYU sophomore Owen Hullinger, a resident of Roosevelt, was not pleased after hearing the news.

“That’s devastating to me. Deron Williams is one of the best point guards in the league. I don’t know how anyone could replace him for the Jazz,” Hullinger said.  ”Now it’s almost like I don’t even know who’s on the Jazz anymore with Boozer gone too.”

Not all Jazz fans were disappointed; many were elated by the news.

“I think we got the better end of [the trade],” said senior Ryun Zobell from Orem. ”It gives [the Jazz] a better chance to rebuild in the right direction, with unselfish players.”

The Jazz are 0-3 since Jerry Sloan left and will be looking to improve with this trade. For many this was a trade the Jazz just couldn’t pass up.

“It’s a great trade,” said BYU graduate student Mike Rutkowski. “They weren’t going to resign Williams and any time you can get a good player, a guy drafted in the lottery and extra draft picks, then it’s a good trade.”

The Nets have the sixth-worst record in the NBA, enhancing the likelihood the Jazz will receive a lottery pick in this year’s draft. The Jazz are still in the hunt for the playoffs with the eighth-best record in the Western conference as of Wednesday afternoon.