From Deseret News archives:
Utah Jazz notes: Williams making himself at home in Utah all year
In fact, the two sides Jazz management, and Williams and his representation aren't expected to even meet face-to-face until sometime next week.
But when an agreement is struck Williams is eligible for a five-year extension that would begin with the 2009-10 season and would be valued around $90 million if extended for the full five years the point guard shouldn't have to come far for a news conference.
"I'm here in the summer all summer, so I'm not going anywhere," Williams said last week, while visiting the Jazz's practice facility. "All they have to do is call me, and I'm up here."
Rather than return to the Dallas area, where he attended high school before playing at the University of Illinois, Williams and his young family now are living year-round in Utah.
No other Jazz starters do: Shooting guard Ronnie Brewer returns to his native Arkansas, Russian small forward Andrei Kirilenko spends most of his summer in Europe, power forward Carlos Boozer resides in Miami and center Mehmet Okur returns home to Turkey.
It's all a welcome statement for the Jazz, who readily acknowledge the commitment Williams who will spend much of August in China, playing with Team USA in the summer Olympics is making.
"I think he just feels comfortable here. We love the fact that he's staying," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said. "He takes ownership of the Utah Jazz right now, and we really appreciate that and enjoy it. We think it's important that he does that a point guard that does that."
It's somewhat akin to how a certain former Jazz point exerted influence within the franchise, even if now-retired John Stockton went about it a different way.
"John left and went to Spokane (Wash., his hometown and current place of residence) every summer and was with his family and wasn't here," O'Connor said, "but I don't think there was any question that he took ownership, or sponsorship, of the Jazz and we feel Deron's doing the same thing.
Recent comments
I think boozer should stay because he is a good pressure shooter. It...
D'will fan | July 19, 2008 at 8:04 p.m.
How sweet would it be to trade Boozer and Kirilenko for D. Howard....
Cody | July 1, 2008 at 10:47 p.m.
@ Bigjazzfan & BillM
Did you guys even watch the NBA finals in...
magnus | July 1, 2008 at 12:35 p.m.
- Utes could end up in San Diego 11:49 p.m.
- Wildcats prove no match for Tribe 11:44 p.m.
- No. 4 Frogs crush the Lobos 11:36 p.m.
- Cougars honor 1984 champs 11:36 p.m.
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes 11:33 p.m.
- A reason why they play the game 11:30 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah 11:29 p.m.
- Broncos still hope to crash BCS party 11:26 p.m.
- Gerhart helps Stanford steam past... 11:25 p.m.
- Hall comes up big when it counts 11:24 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Cougars beat Utes, 26-23
392 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
134 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Letters: Trump card for believers
99 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
93 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75
It's finally time for the game that everyone has been waiting for all...
Its finally here, the big game. No matter what the circumstances are, it...
I'm glad they are sealing off the caves. Several years ago I went to Nutty...
Max Halls comments are unfortunate. I hope he and other BYU fans recognize...
Max is just lucky he doesn't have to face the Utes again. Of course, that's...
Okay, I am a long-time Ute fan but enough is enough. Too many Ute fans are...
Hey Brad Rock.. No need to note that Bradford was only played one half of...
I don't mind that you hate the U. I don't have any good feelings about you...
RE: Dan Fan | 10:59 p.m. Nov. 28, 2009 How does one earn his right to...
I apologize, on behalf of BYU, the football program, the university, the...
I attended the Florida State game and was super excited to cheer on BYU. I...
I'm a fan of both schools because I'm a fan of Utah. I'm also LDS. But...