With Dwight Howard and Chris Paul each having opted in to the final year of his contract, and with Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Steve Nash all in the twilight of their careers, there is only one superstar free agent on the market this summer: Deron Williams.
Williams has said that he hopes to make his decision shortly after July 1, when clubs can first begin contacting free agents, so the good news is that he won't keep us waiting long.
Here's what I can tell you, from speaking with people close to the situation, about Williams' upcoming decision:
• Williams has not yet made up his mind. He is still uncertain about what he will do, and he is weighing several issues when it comes to deciding where he'll play next.
• Money is not going to be the deciding factor. Many believe the Brooklyn Nets, Williams' current team, have the advantage because they can give him a five-year, $108 million contract, while other suitors can offer only a four-year, $81 million deal.
But Williams is a smart guy who has not wasted the significant amount of money he has already made. He knows that the difference between $81 million and $108 million will not alter his lifestyle, so don't expect Williams to sign with Brooklyn simply for the dollars. (Several players have recently shown that it's not all about the money. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were all willing to take less money to play together for the Miami Heat.)