HoopsHype.com Rumors

Williams becomes the NBA’s hottest free agent on 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 the person handling negotiations with whichever team Williams decides to play for in the immediate future. “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.’’ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Deron Williams, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Tommy Thomas 

Thomas posted an impressive 90-8 record during the three years Williams played for him at The Colony. Thus, he knows a chance to win an NBA title will likely weigh heavily in Williams’ decision as much as the chance to become financially stable. “Deron’s always been about winning, so I’m sure that’s first and foremost in his mind [in regards to where he plays next],’’ Thomas said. “He’s already had a great career and made great money. “Again, the money is important, obviously, to take care of his family. But he’s also a competitive guy.’’ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Deron Williams, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Tommy Thomas 

"In the last eight or nine months, Deron has signed national deals with Audi, Red Bull and Metro PCS," said Williams' agent, Jeff Schwartz. "He's also done a number of regional deals with other companies. Being in a larger market, there's always more opportunities, and coupled with the fact that the Nets are moving to Brooklyn, there's going to be a lot of corporate interest in both the team and its star players." CBSSports.com

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Jeff Schwartz 

It seems as though the front runner to represent both Rivers and Zeller is Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management. Schwartz likely has a good relationship with Doc Rivers based on Schwartz's representation of Paul Pierce (a member of Doc's Celtics team), but more importantly, Austin Rivers' brother, Jeramiah Rivers is an Excel Sports Management client. Not only is Austin Rivers' brother an Excel client, but so is Tyler Zeller's elder brother, Luke. Both brothers have played overseas, and Excel's commission on the contracts is likely nothing to scoff at. However, it would be naive to think that Schwartz was not at least thinking about the prospect of signing Austin Rivers and Tyler Zeller when his company signed their older brothers. Jeremiah Rivers is currently playing for KK Mega Vizura in Serbia. Luke Zeller is currently playing for the Shiga Lakestars in Japan. businessinsider.com

Draft, Jeff Schwartz, Austin Rivers, Tyler Zeller 

After the Lakers tried and and failed to trade Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol for New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul on Friday, a team source said Odom was so upset he asked general manager Mitch Kupchak to trade him. Kupchak told Odom he would "think about it." Jeff Schwartz, Odom's agent, then phoned Kupchak on Saturday to say the versatile 6-foot-10 forward still wanted to be dealt. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Trade, Chris Paul, Pau Gasol, Mitch Kupchak, Lamar Odom, Jeff Schwartz 

Among the most vocal players questioning the deal in its aftermath were key members of the Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, sources said. Pierce is represented by agent Jeff Schwartz, who was among a group of seven agents from six of the most powerful agencies who had unsuccessfully pushed for the players to decertify as early as July. All three play for an owner, Wyc Grousbeck, who was an undisputed hawk on the labor relations committee in pushing for a deal that, among other things, all but eliminated the extend-and-trade provision that landed Garnett in Boston in 2007. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, CBA, Wyc Grousbeck, Lockout, NBPA, Kevin Garnett, Jeff Schwartz 

Pierce is represented by Jeff Schwartz, who has been among the leaders of a group of seven agents from six of the most influential agencies who've long disagreed with the union's bargaining and legal tactics. Those agents, including Arn Tellem, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein and Bill Duffy, believe the players should've voted to decertify back in July and sued for antitrust violations much earlier in the process. Garnett is represented by agent Andy Miller, who has had no association with the dissident agents and was not aware of his client's involvement, sources said. Rob Pelinka, who represents Kobe Bryant and union president Derek Fisher, also is said to be among the group of insurgents, sources said. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, CBA, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Andy Miller, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Hunter, though, has rival factions within his own house to contend with. He acknowledged in a Tuesday night interview with NBA TV that a fast-moving decertification push driven by agents and frustrated players -- most notably Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce -- has "close to" 200 players in the process of signing a petition that would call for a decertification vote. The movement, sources said, has grown to include more than the original seven agents (Mark Bartelstein, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Leon Rose, Jeff Schwartz, Arn Tellem and Henry Thomas) who have been advocating decertification for months. "I think you'd be surprised how big it's gotten," said one source, who added that "the wheels are in motion" and that signatures are already "coming in pretty quickly." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Sources within seven of the most prominent agencies – including the agents and players themselves – said they have overwhelming support to march toward dissolving the union. The agents are selling decertification to the players as a leverage tool to get a deal done to salvage the season, as much as a long-term threat to take the owners to federal court with an antitrust lawsuit. Agents working on the decertification include Mark Bartelstein, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Bill Duffy, Leon Rose, Henry Thomas and Dan Fegan. Yahoo! Sports

CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

If a new labor deal was not completed within that 45-day span and a second vote is sanctioned by the NLRB, decertification would then require a simple majority vote of the league's 450-odd players to pass. At that point, players would have the freedom to sue the NBA under antitrust law and attempt to bring an end to the lockout via court system. Yet there are widespread fears around the league that, if decertification gets that far, any hope of playing even a reduced schedule in 2011-12 would be lost. The so-called "Big Seven" agents who pushed for decertification throughout the summer -- Mark Bartelstein, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Leon Rose, Jeff Schwartz, Arn Tellem and Henry Thomas -- have long believed that the league's desire to keep this labor battle out of courts via the decertification process would force Stern and the union's owners to bargain more fairly during the 45-day "grace" period. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher, CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The seven agents who sent NBA players a "warning letter" on Monday held a conference call Wednesday afternoon to discuss their next move in the league's lockout, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Those agents -- Arn Tellum, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Jeff Schwartz, Leon Rose, Henry Thomas and Mark Bartelstein -- had been strong behind-the-scenes advocates of decertification for the Players Association but, according to the source, now believe that the time to do so has passed. The letter, which was first reported by ESPN's Ric Bucher, has been widely viewed by players and others around the league as anti-union. ESPN.com

CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, NBPA, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The seven agents who sent NBA players a "warning letter" on Monday are holding a conference call Wednesday afternoon to discuss their next move in the league's player lockout, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Those agents -- Arn Tellem, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Jeff Schwartz, Leon Rose, Henry Thomas and Mark Bartelstein -- have been strong behind-the-scenes advocates of decertification for the NBA Players Association. The meeting was expected to begin at 2 p.m. ET. ESPN.com

Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The letter, which was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher, has been widely viewed by players and others around the league as critical of the union's leadership. But one of the agents said Wednesday that the call will center on how the agents can best help union executive director Billy Hunter get a fair deal for the players, rather than on pushing for decertification against the union's wishes. ESPN.com

Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Sam Amick: He was, the agent says, a key power player in relationship between William Wesley and Rose that has led to much of CAA's recent growth. Twitter

William Wesley, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Sources say the letter, a copy of which was obtained from a player who received it, was jointly composed by Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group; Bill Duffy of BDA Sports; Dan Fegan of Lagardere Unlimited; Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management; Leon Rose and Henry Thomas of Creative Artists Agency; and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports and Entertainment. ESPN.com

CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams has chosen to sign with Jeff Schwartz as his new agent, according to sources with knowledge of the decision. Williams recently parted ways with longtime agent Bob McLaren, who primarily works with Major League Baseball clients. ESPN.com

New Jersey Nets, Deron Williams, Jeff Schwartz 

Williams recently fired longtime agent Bob McLaren. Reports indicate that Williams likely will be represented by Leon Rose of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) — which lists LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh as clients. But sources said Williams also is considering Jeff Schwartz, who represents Jason Kidd, Devin Harris, Paul Pierce, Blake Griffin and Lamar Odom, among others. Bergen Record

New Jersey Nets, Leon Rose, Deron Williams, Jeff Schwartz, Agents 

Jeff Schwartz, Emeka’s agent ever since he was the No. 2 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, and his wife, Natalie, had recently welcomed their first child, Sloane, into the world. The Okafors weren’t going to pass up the chance to see the baby girl and her proud parents, with whom they have a special bond. “They kind of view him as a son,” Okafor said of his parents’ relationship with Schwartz. That’s exactly the kind of family-type atmosphere Schwartz, a New Haven native and 1982 Cheshire High graduate, tries to build with his roster of clients. And what an impressive roster it is. New Haven Register

Emeka Okafor, Jeff Schwartz 

And, of course, the man who coached them all at UConn is also one of Schwartz’s clients. Jim Calhoun got to know Schwartz through Dave Leitao, the former UConn assistant, and hired him as his agent about a decade ago. “He’s not only been a really good agent, but certainly a good friend,” Calhoun said of Schwartz, who has been a guest at several Calhoun family weddings. “He’s stayed away from players who aren’t the right kind of guys and runs a high-class agency.” New Haven Register

Emeka Okafor, Jeff Schwartz 

When Emeka Okafor’s parents, Pius and Celestina, came up to visit him and his sister, Nneka, in New York City earlier this summer, there was one other “family member” that they made a point to see. Jeff Schwartz, Emeka’s agent ever since he was the No. 2 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, and his wife, Natalie, had recently welcomed their first child, Sloane, into the world. The Okafors weren’t going to pass up the chance to see the baby girl and her proud parents, with whom they have a special bond. “They kind of view him as a son,” Okafor said of his parents’ relationship with Schwartz. Middletown Press

Emeka Okafor, Jeff Schwartz