On Friday morning, it was reported that Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams is trying to negotiate a buyout with the team so that he can join the Dallas Mavericks.

Story going online now: ESPN sources say Deron Williams seeking release from Brooklyn Nets so he can sign with his hometown Dallas Mavericks

Advertisement

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 10, 2015

Back in 2012, Williams signed a five-year deal worth $98.77 million with the Nets, as the team was desperate to become a contending organization. While the Nets have made the playoffs in all three seasons with Williams on the roster, the team has only made it out of the first round once, and that was 2013-14 when the Nets lost to the Miami Heat in five games.

When Williams signed his massive deal with the Nets, he looked to be entering the prime of his career, as he was only 28 years old, and had averaged 20 points and over 10 assists per game the previous season. Williams looked to be a superstar in the making, and the Nets were expecting him to take the team to the promised land.

However, since arriving in Brooklyn, Williams has been a major disappointment as he’s dropped from averaging 20 points and 10 assists, to 14.6 points and 6.1 assists in 2013-14 and then 13 points and 6.6 assists last season. Williams has often seemed disinterested, and overall unhappy with the Nets. Maybe the pressure of trying to live up to the contract got to him, or possibly it was the bright lights of New York, but for whatever reason it hasn’t worked in Brooklyn.

With the Mavericks losing DeAndre Jordan to the Los Angeles Clippers, owner Mark Cuban had to change plans on the fly. After Jordan had originally agreed to sign with the Mavericks, Cuban said publicly that had the team not convinced Jordan and free agent guard Wesley Matthews to sign, the Mavericks would’ve tanked next season in order to get younger and begin building through the draft like the Minnesota Timberwolves. Once Jordan left and Matthews decided to stay, Cuban was caught in the middle, and it seems like he’s decided to press forward as a contender, with the news of Williams trying to sign with the team.

Sometimes all a player needs is a change of scenery, and I believe that’s the case with Williams. He’s too talented to play as poorly as he has the last two seasons. Williams is still only 31 years old, and should have a couple of solid years left in the tank. If the Mavericks can coax those years out of him, the team could be in better position with Williams as the ring leader, as opposed to Jordan, because Williams is going to make everyone around him better.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.