From Deseret News archives:

Utah Jazz: D-Mill(ions) — Jazz point guard signs $50 million extension

Published: Saturday, July 19, 2008 12:07 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
On the day the Jazz signed their franchise point guard to a contract extension that could keep him in Utah through 2013, general manager Kevin O'Connor thought back to three-plus years ago.

It was the month before the 2005 NBA Draft, and the Jazz were pondering the possibilities if they could just move up — which they indeed did — and pick as high as No. 3 overall.

Chris Paul? Deron Williams? Which way to go?

"We had a choice, and we made a choice," O'Connor said. "And the choice has exceeded our expectations."

That choice was Williams, who on Friday signed a three-year, roughly $50 million extension beyond next season with a player option for the 2012-13 season that could be worth another $20 million or so — the same deal Paul recently signed with the New Orleans Hornets.

In the three years since the draft, Williams has gone from frustrated rookie reserve to a Team USA point who'll play at next month's Summer Olympics in China.

The University of Illinois product also has helped the Jazz to five playoff series over the past two seasons, which went a long way toward the awarding of his max-money extension.

But the road there wasn't always smooth.

Story continues below
He was flustered that Jazz coach Jerry Sloan didn't use him more as a rookie, so much that Williams admitted Friday he couldn't have cared less then if Sloan continued to coach the team or not.

"I probably would have hoped he was gone already," Williams said. "But now I hope he stays."

In fact, Sloan's presence — more precisely, its relative uncertainty in seasons beyond the next — was a critical factor among several that Williams weighed while deciding to take a three-year-plus-the-option extension rather than the maximum-allowed five-year extension.

"That plays a lot into it as well, because Jerry's a great coach and is a winner. That's all that's on his mind, is winning basketball games," he said of Sloan, who is heading into his 21st season as head coach of the Jazz. "That's what's on my mind, and that's why I like him so much, and that's why we get along.

"And you don't know how many years he's going to be coaching for. You know, he pretty much takes it one year at a time," Williams added. "And that definitely has an effect in the back of my mind — that he might not be here, and you don't know who's gonna come in after him if he decides to leave in the next couple years."

Recent comments

This great! We all know that boozer will stay and Oukr and Kover only...

TheMan | July 20, 2008 at 4:53 p.m.

Please plead with Boozer to play some defense. Plead to Okur to take...

Anonymous | July 19, 2008 at 9:37 p.m.

"granny5", AK's fall from grace was because of a change in his role;...

utah_man18 | July 19, 2008 at 6:50 p.m.

Image

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, Deron Williams and Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor share a laugh after signing a multiyear contract extension at a press conference on Friday.

previousnext

Latest comments

Palin tickets still available

Costco manger said you have to have a costco card to get in... I have a sams

LDS engineer, 48-core chip

To anonymous @ 11:59 Apparently it means everything to you as that is the...

Man defends self with scraper

Sounds like something out of a bad movie.

Panel passes BCS playoff bill

Finally something the Utes and Cougars can agree on! This is all about the...

High school girls basketball rankings

Are you serious? If you truly have watched a lot of girls games, you would...

Just looked at Utes season statistics. Their three native Utah players...

Letters: Be a good sport

What are you rambling about? Your senseless mumbo-jumbo was a waste of your...

You who are critical of this have missed the point entirely... or perhaps you...

Well, if you believe the Bible then you believe the Jewish people are God's...

I am going to go there and check it out, I bet she's very nice and kind to...

Advertisements