Deron Williams Reaches Agreement To Play In Turkey During NBA Lockout

Deron Williams Signs With Besiktas, Announces It On Twitter

This is the brave new world we're in. Though it was all but a foregone conclusion Deron Williams would sign with Besiktas of Turkey to keep busy during the NBA lockout, no contracts had been signed. There was still i's to dot, t's to cross and a few things to finalize before the move was made official. There was still a chance, however unlikely, that the deal could've fell through.

But now, Williams' signing is official and he announced it himself. And he did so on Twitter, in his first tweet from a new account, sent straight to Chris Broussard. It was an odd sight, but here we are.

The link is a photo of the signed contract, submitted into evidence as proof that Williams wasn't messing around. You can find the picture below.

While it's not exactly huge breaking news that Williams is headed overseas, it is interesting that he decided to announce it officially by tweeting a picture of the contract. I'm not sure I've ever seen this, but am wondering if it's about to become a trend. If so, the Twitter world is going to be awesome during the NFL free agency frenzy of 2011.

For the latest on Williams' decision to play overseas, visit the rest of this StoryStream.

Deron Williams Says Signing In Turkey Is 'About The Experience'

Deron Williams made waves when he became the first NBA All-Star to agree to play in Europe if the NBA lockout goes on into the 2011-12 NBA season, but he isn't doing it for the money. According to the New Jersey Nets point guard, he's doing it for the experience.

Williams talked to ESPN's Chris Broussard on Saturday and dispelled any notions that he agreed to play for Besiktas in Turkey next season for the money -- a reported deal that could be worth up to $5 million if he plays there for a full year.

"It's ridiculous," Williams said in the interview. "We've known this lockout's coming. I have plenty of money saved for the lockout purpose. Now, I don't even need to touch that money. I can invest that money. I can go grow that money. It's not something that's money-driven."

So if it isn't about the money, why did Williams decide to take his talents to Europe rather than relax at home while watching his money grow?

"It's more about the experience. Experience and being able to compete and play basketball. I don't want to sit around. That's what the NBA wants us to do right now. They locked us out of our gyms, they locked us out of facilities. We got to go find somewhere on our own to go hoop, to put games together," Williams said. "I don't have to do that. I've got a team. I'm going to go through organized practices. I'm going to be in game situations. So if the lockout is lifted, I'm going to be ready to play."

Though the experience sounds nice, it's been said that Williams could be risking the Nets voiding his contract if their star player is injured overseas. Williams points out that playing in Turkey isn't more risky than anything else he could be doing until the NBA returns, however.

"People say, 'Oh, you're going to get hurt,'" Williams said. "I can get hurt playing at (the University of San Diego) or wherever I'm at. I can get hurt walking down these steps. Of course, that's a big part of it. But I also did my due diligence, researched insurance. I'll be covered."

The last issue, then, would be how his leaving to Europe will affect Williams' NBA brethren that don't make the trek -- and, more specifically, how it affects the NBA Players Association's bargaining efforts being led by Billy Hunter.

"I talked to Mr. Hunter and he said he supported it," Williams said. "He was happy for me. He thought I made a great decision, a business decision. He was behind me."

Interestingly enough, the preceding statement unsurprisingly proves ESPN's Stephen A. Smith absolutely wrong.

Yay, lockout.

Is Deron Williams A 'Filthy-Rich Scab'? Stephen A. Smith Implies As Much

Deron Williams To Play In Turkey: Nets Fans React To The News

Deron Williams is taking his talents to Turkey during the NBA Lockout. As you might imagine, this is something that intrigues New Jersey Nets fans since Williams is under contract with that team.

Of course, Williams will be able to rejoin the Nets as soon as the lockout is over, but in the meantime, Nets fans are crossing fingers that their star player doesn't tweak or tear anything while playing for relative peanuts across the globe.

Nets fans also wonder what kind of pressure this puts on New Jersey owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the other owners.

"There's real pressure on Mikhail Prokhorov, and implied pressure on every owner with valued stars, to get the NBA season started on time," writes Abbott. "There's nothing like watching the future of your franchise take the floor night in and night out in a chippy overseas league. If Williams gets injured in Turkey, it's bad for Williams, but it's dreadful for the Nets," who need him to recruit free agents and open the Barclays Center.

For more on Nets fan reaction to Deron Williams, visit NetsDaily.

Deron Williams' Contract In Turkey To Be Paid By Sponsor, According To Report

Deron Williams' reported $200,000-a-month contract to play for Turkish club team Besiktas during the NBA lockout will apparently be paid by a sponsor, according to Besiktas coach Ergin Ataman. Ataman revealed the news in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick. This means that the club itself will not be spending a dime on Williams directly and could pursue a similar arrangement to lure other American stars like Kobe Bryant.

Ataman declined to reveal the specific company that is sponsoring Williams, only saying it's one club president Yildirim Demiroren knows.

The president has many companies, and is one of the biggest industry [men] in Turkey, so he will decide which of these companies will sponsor for these players.

Ataman said this is a "special situation" and not a part of Besiktas' normal budget. He also said that a similar path would be used to lure Kobe Bryant to Turkey.

For more on Williams and the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York.

Deron Williams Appears Headed To Turkey, But Will Other NBA Stars Follow?

Deron Williams has agreed to play for Besiktas, a club in Turkey, during the NBA lockout. Will other NBA All-Stars follow him? Tom Ziller is not convinced.

Deron Williams To Make $200K Per Month With Besiktas Of Turkey

Deron Williams' contract with Turkish basketball team Besiktas won't be nearly as rich as his deal with the New Jersey Nets, but if he ends up playing for Besiktas during the 2011 NBA lockout, he'll make $200,000 per month, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

Over the nine months of Besiktas' season, that amounts to $1.8 million for Williams. According to ShamSports' NBA salary index, Williams was set to make over $16 million for the Nets in the 2011-12 season.

So Williams' Besiktas salary would amount to just a drop in the bucket compared to his massive NBA deal: Williams would make $199,509 per game in the 2011-12 season, provided he played all 82 games for the Nets during the regular season. But if one is forced to take a second job, one that pays $1.8 million a year is not exactly being made to starve.

For more on Williams and the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York.

Deron Williams' Agent Confirms Contract Agreement To Play For Besiktas In Turkey During NBA Lockout

Deron Williams' new agent Jeff Schwartz has confirmed reports that Williams will indeed play for Besiktas, a Turkish club team in Istanbul, during the NBA lockout. Schwartz did not disclose the contract terms, but did tell ESPN's Ric Bucher that the agreement is done.

Williams' newly hired agent, Jeff Schwartz, on Thursday confirmed a report from the Turkey-based sports outlet NTV Spor that the All-Star point guard has struck an agreement in principal to play for Besiktas, which is the club that briefly employed Allen Iverson last season.

While Schwartz himself did not disclose the contract terms, sources told Bucher and Marc Stein that the deal is a one-year contract in the "low seven figures." The deal also includes an immediate opt-out that would allow Williams to return to the NBA if the lockout is resolved.

Williams has two years left on his contract with the New Jersey Nets, but has the option to become an unrestricted free agent after next season. It is widely expected that he will exercise that option.

For more on Williams and the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York.

Deron Williams Agrees On Contract To Play With Besiktas In Turkey During Lockout, Official Announcement Expected Soon

Deron Williams' agreement with Besiktas, a Turkish club team in Istanbul, has been confirmed, according to a report by Howard Beck of the New York Times. The New Jersey Nets' star will indeed play for the team until the NBA lockout is resolved, and the arrangement will be made official within 24 hours.

"We confirm" the contract with Williams, said Ergin Ataman, the coach of the Turkish team Besiktas, in a telephone interview Thursday.

A news conference involving Williams and Besiktas' president is expected next week, according to Beck. Williams will make $350,000 a month, according to a report, which would make him the highest-paid American player playing anywhere overseas. He will be free to return to the NBA once the lockout is resolved. It remains to be seen whether FIBA will attempt to block the move.

Besiktas is the club Allen Iverson played for when he played in Turkey. Its season begins in late September, and Williams would report as soon as late-August.

For more on Williams and the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York.

Deron Williams' Potential New Team In Turkey To Begin Play In Late September With Eurocup Qualifier

Deron Williams is looking at taking his talents to Turkey next season. The New Jersey Nets point guard has confirmed his interest in playing with Besiktas, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, which leaves one looming question: What's a Besiktas?

Besiktas ColaTurka is located in Istanbul and employed former NBA All-Star Allen Iverson last season. The team isn't regarded as one of Europe's better teams as it competes in the Eurocup, regarded as the league beneath the more famous Euroleague, and compiled a 19-11 record in Turkish league play last season.

Besiktas will once again try its hand in the Eurocup this season -- if they are able to advance past their qualifying draw against Belgium-based Dexia Mons this fall. The team will have to post wins against Dexia Mons in their games scheduled for Sept. 27 and again Oct. 4 in order to qualify for its seventh straight Eurocup regular season.

In that light, it will be interesting if Williams reports to the club in time to contribute in those games. Stein reports that Williams won't be required to report to Europe "before the end of August or early September," leaving just a few weeks for the NBA All-Star to find chemistry with his new Turkish teammates.

If they're able to make the Eurocup regular season, they will compete against teams such as Italy's Benneton, Hapoel Jerusalem, Lokomotiv Kuban out of Russia and Spain's Valencia, among others.

If Williams' potential new team isn't able to advance past the Eurocup qualifying games, the team will still play in the Turkish league, known as the TBL. The TBL is shaping up to be a rather impressive league this season considering last year's top American players, aside from Iverson, included former NBA players Sean May and Juan Dixon.

If Williams does indeed end up with Besiktas, by the way, he won't be the only NBA player on the squad as the team is also said to be finalizing a contract with Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia.

Deron Williams 'Intends' To Play For Besiktas In Turkey During NBA Lockout, According To Report

It looks like there is a lot of legitimacy to reports that New Jersey Nets superstar point guard Deron Williams is in discussions to play with Besiktas, a Turkish club team in Istanbul, during the NBA lockout. Williams' interest in Besiktas is mutual and real, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams is planning to play in Turkey in the fall if the NBA lockout has not yet been settled, according to sources with knowledge of Williams' thinking.

Williams' contract with the Nets ends after the 2011/12 season, and it remains a grey area as far as whether players can play elsewhere overseas in the event of a lockout. The Nets themselves are not aware of any offer Besiktas has given to Williams, a source told CBS Sports' Ken Berger. That doesn't mean the offer doesn't exist, though.

Besiktas is the Turkish team that employed Allen Iverson last season, so it has some experience with former NBA players. Williams, however, would be a much more radical acquisition, since he is still under contract in the NBA. Several players have casually mentioned trying to go overseas, but Williams is the first to actively explore it.

For more on Williams and the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York.

Deron Williams In Talks With Besiktas In Turkey, Says Team's Coach

Deron Williams, the star point guard of the New Jersey Nets, is in talks to join Besiktas, a club based in Istanbul, Turkey, the team's coach told Turkish reporter Ismail Senol.

A report from Senol's station, NTV Spor, early Thursday that claimed Williams had signed with Besiktas ripped through the web, drawing as much skepticism as interest. The coach's confirmation of talks was the first on-the-record acknowledgment of talks, and lent a good dose of credence to the proceedings.

The coach, Ergin Ataman, said that the club and Williams were "close to an agreement." The coach also said that Williams would be the biggest star in Europe; that is no overstatement. 

Of course, even if a deal is agreed to, Williams would be in New Jersey suiting up for the Nets should the NBA lockout end before the start of the regular season. There's also the matter of FIBA approval for the deal with Besiktas, given that Williams is under contract with the Nets for next season; that might rely on Nets approval for the deal, which might be a challenge to get even as the Nets do everything in their power to convince Williams to sign an extension beyond the 2011-12 season.

For more on the Nets, visit NetsDaily.

Deron Williams Signs With Besiktas In Turkey, According To Turkish TV Report

Deron Williams has agreed in principle to a deal with Besiktas, a club based in Turkey best known for employing Allen Iverson last season, according to Ismail Senol of Turkish TV network NTV Spor (via TalkBasket by way of Hoopshype). The superstar point guard is under contract with the New Jersey Nets for the 2011-12 NBA season, but the lockout has thrown into question whether players can work in Europe or Asia until the labor situation is resolved.

No American publications have independently reported the deal, which would be considered a major shock given that the NBA lockout is just six days old and Williams has never been considered a major threat to move overseas during a stoppage.

TalkBasket's translation indicates that under the rumored deal, Williams would be free to return to the Nets if the lockout ends. That would no doubt by a condition of either the Nets' approval of the move or, barring that, FIBA approval of the deal. FIBA, the world's basketball organization, has rules on players under contract with a team in one league playing for another league without approval. FIBA has remained vague on whether it will clear NBA players under contract who sign deals with sanctioned leagues.