The deal that will send the Jazz's franchise player to New Jersey is merely another indicator that stars make the calls and run the league. While Williams could argue he couldn't control the trade, he did in a sense. He was scheduled to become a free agent in 2012. He was unhappy with the direction the Jazz were going, unhappy with the coaching staff when Jerry Sloan was around. The Jazz wouldn't have traded him if they'd had a prayer of keeping him here after his contract season.
This is the player that complained of teammates not knowing the plays, earlier this season. Same player who said last summer that if the Jazz didn't get some talent to surround him, he didn't want to be here.
It didn't take a fortune-teller to know that a year from July, he would have left as a free agent, and the Jazz would have received nothing in return. As it is, they got Devin Harris, a talented veteran point guard, and Derrick Favors, a No. 3 draft pick, who is only 19. Neither is the caliber of Williams, but both are better than losing Williams for nothing. Meanwhile, the Jazz will also reportedly get $3 million and two first-round draft picks.