Deron Williams’ Soon-to-Be Former Agent ‘Would Love to See Him’ Sign with Dallas

At the moment, there’s no telling what Deron Williams (or his new representative at the negotiating table) wants as free agency looms, but this much is clear: his former adviser wants him playing in Texas. Per the Star-Telegram: “Unfortunately for the Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams won’t be renegotiating his contract with his longtime agent, Tommy Thomas. Otherwise, Williams could be wearing a Mavericks uniform. Thomas was Williams’ high school coach at The Colony from 1999-02, has watched Williams mature into being one of the game’s best players and has been a major influence in his life for many years. Thomas also was Williams’ agent, via Houston-based McClaren Sports, when he became the third overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Williams becomes the NBA’s hottest free agent July 1, and Thomas said ‘I would love to see him’ sign with the Mavericks. However, Thomas’ contract with Williams ends June 30, and Williams’ new agent, Jeff Schwartz, will be handling negotiations with whichever team Williams decides to play. ‘We want him to make the best decision for him and his family, wherever that is and wherever God leads him,’ Thomas said Tuesday. ‘I told him the other day, ‘Hey, I let God do all the heavy lifting in my life, so you’ve just got to pray about it and then see what path God has for you and then be committed to wherever He takes you. That’s the advice I gave him a couple of Saturdays ago.’ Asked if he advised Williams not to go on live TV — a la LeBron James — to announce the decision about his basketball future, Thomas said: ‘That’s his new guy’s deal now. I’m out of that part. All I do is pray for him and wish him well.’ The Mavericks are hopeful that Williams, an All-Star the past three seasons, will return home and sign a long-term contract with them. So, too, is Thomas.”