HoopsHype.com Rumors

It’s not in Brooklyn, but Brooklyn Nets star Deron Williams’ new trophy apartment is just over the Brooklyn Bridge in TriBeCa. Williams has purchased a 6,800-square-foot penthouse loft at the uber-posh 35 North Moore St. for $15.8 million. The six-bedroom, 4 1/2-bathroom residence in the Merchant’s House condo conversion, a building that dates back to 1905, also features a sprawling 3,000 square feet of outdoor space. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

Rod Boone: Deron isn't participating in this morning's shootaround, but he's still listed as probable for tonight's game vs. #Heat. Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Injuries 

Though the Nets felt their backcourt was All-Star worthy, the biggest snub on the team was clearly Lopez, who leads all NBA centers in scoring and entered last night’s action as the only player averaging more than 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. “I just thought Brook should have made it,” Williams said. “I thought he was an All-Star this year. He’s been the most consistent for us all year and has played consistent basketball, so for him to not make it, we feel hurt for him. That’s the main thing.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, All Star Game 

Mike Mazzeo: Barkley: "Those coaches were mad that Deron Williams got the coach fired, so they were hating on the #Nets." Twitter @MazzESPN

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, All Star Game 

When Deron Williams caught wind of the latest Dwight Howard trade rumors, he felt compelled to chat with his teammate, Brook Lopez, who is always on the other side of these things. “You can’t get a break, huh?” Williams told him. “No matter what you do.” New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

Lopez is having the best season of his career, blossoming into an aggressive defender and an All-Star candidate. The Nets are a lot happier with having Lopez over Howard – who has become a running joke amongst players – than they were last season. “We’re happy with Brook,” Williams said. “Brook is our center. He’s having an All-Star year. I don’t see Brook going anywhere.” New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

“(Lopez and I) talked about it last night,” Williams said. “All it is is rumors and sources. Sources are not credible to me. Until you put a name to a source, it’s not credible. “I’d be really surprised if Lopez doesn’t make (the All-Star reserves, which will be announced tomorrow). I don’t know how you could leave Brook off. What he’s meant to this team on both sides of the floor. He’s been the most consistent throughout this season. I think he’s an All-Star. …I think in general he just came in with a chip on his shoulders, being in thrown around in trade rumors for the last two years and being hurt last year and people doubting him, so I think he definitely came in ready to go this year and really confident. Hopefully people are taking notice.” New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

Most overrated player today? Stan Van Gundy: Jeremy Lin (of the New York Knicks). He's not a guy who should be third in the (All-Star) voting. I never thought (Nets point guard) Deron Williams was overrated but right now people still look at him as one of the top two or three point guards in the league. He hasn't been that (in recent seasons). USA Today Sports

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Stan Van Gundy, Jeremy Lin 

Then, on a Friday night in Brooklyn, he beat the Pistons and the double-overtime buzzer with a game-winner. Three weeks later, another Friday night in Washington, D.C., he beat the Wizards and the buzzer, again. Confidence is a funny thing: When it goes, it’s gone. But when it grows … “There’s nobody you’d rather see with the ball in the end,” Brook Lopez says. “He wants it, every time,” Deron Williams says. “Yes,” Joe Johnson says. “I want to take that shot.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

If NBA players were waiting for some of the sport's biggest stars to step up and weigh in on the disturbing findings against union chief Billy Hunter, consider that done. "I think change is needed, top to bottom," Nets star Deron Williams told CBSSports.com Friday night, becoming the league's first high-profile player to call for Hunter's ouster as executive director of the National Basketball Players Association. "I don't think things were getting voted on like they should have been," Williams said. "... I'm sure there's guys that are still with Billy, and some guys that aren't. We've just got to figure out what the next step is." CBSSports.com

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Most relevant to the union's future leadership, the law firm found that Hunter's 2010 contract extension -- worth as much as $18 million -- was not voted on by the board of 30 player representatives, in violation of the union's constitution and bylaws. "That's what I mean about stuff not being voted on," Williams said. CBSSports.com

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

But some players, like Williams, and their agents already were displeased with Hunter's job performance before the report's findings were published. While Hunter's perceived losses in three rounds of collective bargaining against NBA commissioner David Stern are a matter for interpretation, the findings against the longtime union chief made it clear that the reasons for dismissing him would not be limited to the report's findings. "I didn't like how things went down with this negotiation," Williams said. "I sat in on some of the meetings and nothing good came out of it while I was there. All along, they were telling us, 'Prepare for the lockout.' I think we weren't active enough, weren't aggressive enough. ... I think there could've been some other measures taken -- decertify earlier and a lot of other things." CBSSports.com

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, David Stern, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Payton also is watching a lot of basketball. And what point guards is he watching? “I like Damian Lillard because he’s from Oakland, California, and he’s a phenomenal basketball player,” Payton said. “He should be the rookie of the year, he’s playing very well right now for Portland and I love his game. “I’ve been watching Deron Williams for a long period of time now and I like him. He is the epitome of an old-school basketball player. He just goes out there and gets it done, he’s not about being fancy, going through your legs three or four times, pulling up in your face. He just gets it done. He just gets what he has to get, gets his assists, gets his rebounds, gets his points and just gets his team to win.” NBCSports.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Gary Payton, Deron Williams, Damian Lillard 

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams is a three-time All-Star. But he doesn't think he has done enough this season to merit a fourth selection. "I just think there's people playing better than me," he said Tuesday. The All-Star starters will be announced Thursday night on TNT. Williams, 28, is averaging 16.8 points, 7.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds a game. He's shooting just 40.9 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from 3-point range. ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams is a three-time All-Star. But he doesn't think he has done enough this season to merit a fourth selection. "I just think there's people playing better than me," he said Tuesday. ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

“He’s been great for us so far, and I think all the guys responded well to him. I think all the guys like him. He’s done a great job coaching us,’’ said Williams, who is averaging 20 points per game and 8.8 assists during the Nets’ four-game winning streak heading into tonight’s game against the Suns at Barclays Center. “We lost a head coach, but then we gained another one. He’s coached a lot of teams in this league as a head coach. Like I said, he’s doing a great job.’’ New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams, PJ Carlesimo 

This weekend, Brooklyn Nets fans will learn to say "defense" in Russian. On Jan. 13, the Nets will host An Evening of Russian Culture during a game against the Indiana Pacers, which coincides with Old Russian New Year's Eve. Famed Russian concert violinist Alexander Markov will perform the national anthem before the game and again at halftime. Russian entertainer Oleg Kolomyets is slated to introduce the starting players, and Russian music will also be incorporated throughout the game. Nets players Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez will appear in a video in which they sample fare from Manhattan restaurant The Russian Samovar. Crain's

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Russia, Brook Lopez 

Stefan Bondy: Philly TV reporter asked this question 2 D-Will this morning: "How are the Philly police treating you?" Williams' response: "You're a tool." Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Brooklyn Nets, Law, Andray Blatche, Deron Williams 

“I just think he’s confident,” Deron Williams said of Lopez. “He’s not looking over his shoulder every five minutes thinking he’s going to get traded, which definitely will help as far as his focus and him mentally being ready to play. I think he’s just being so aggressive on both ends and that’s something that we love to see.” SNY Nets

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

"I felt a little bit better today," Williams said. "I got really warmed up in here in the training room and came out and felt good, and just really tried to push the ball. Even when they scored, I was just kind of yelling at the bigs, telling them to take it out so we can just run and get into a flow instead of walking the ball up and passing it around, not playing our game." Newsday

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams