The Jazz Moved Deron Williams for Two Players and Two Firsts
On February 23, 2011, Utah traded All-Star point guard Deron Williams to New Jersey. The Jazz received guard Devin Harris, young forward Derrick Favors, a 2011 first-round pick that became No. 3 Enes Kanter and another first-round selection that was later No. 21 in 2013, associated with Gorgui Dieng. The inherited transaction record also includes cash considerations. Williams was an established elite pick-and-roll operator who had averaged more than ten assists in multiple Utah seasons. New Jersey needed a franchise-level point guard to headline its rebuilding effort before the later move to Brooklyn. Utah accepted a package that paired a current NBA guard with a very young power forward and two draft opportunities. The teams’ histories identify the asset flow, though each later pick transfer requires independent tracing.
Williams Was Productive for the Nets but Never Restored Their Former Finals Standing
Williams played at an All-Star level after the move, supplying scoring and playmaking in both New Jersey and Brooklyn. He helped the relocated Nets reach the postseason in multiple seasons, including the second round in 2014. That is genuine basketball value; the inherited Nets F grade should not be read as a claim that Williams never played effectively for the franchise. His later large contract and uneven health reduced the value of the acquisition relative to its high price, however, and the Nets did not return to the Finals during his tenure. New Jersey’s immediate gamble was to secure a star point guard; its longer-term opportunity cost was the loss of two firsts and Favors. The gap between professional production and the price of acquiring it explains the harsh retrospective assessment.
Favors and the Kanter Pick Anchored Utah’s Rebuild
Favors developed into a starting Utah frontcourt player over several seasons, with major rebounding and defensive responsibilities. Harris supplied a veteran guard during the initial transition. Utah also selected Enes Kanter at No. 3 in 2011, obtaining another young interior prospect who played regular NBA minutes for the Jazz before a later trade. The 2013 No. 21 pick connected to Gorgui Dieng followed its own rights chain, so Dieng’s entire NBA career should not be credited as Utah games. The Jazz’s A+ inherited grade reflects a package of long-term roster-building assets rather than a single replacement guard matching Williams’s past All-Star stats. Utah traded an established star yet obtained several different usable pieces, while New Jersey concentrated its future resources in one veteran.
Final Verdict
Jazz Win. Utah earns A+ for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and two first-round assets tied to No. 3 Enes Kanter in 2011 and No. 21 Gorgui Dieng in 2013, plus cash considerations. New Jersey receives F despite Deron Williams’s productive Nets years because the high acquisition cost and later contract reduced the lasting payoff.