Report: Mavs Reach Deals To Bring Back Williams, Powell
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DALLAS (AP) - Deron Williams is re-upping with his hometown Dallas Mavericks, who are also bringing back promising young forward Dwight Powell.
Two people with knowledge of the deals said Sunday night that Williams has agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract, while Powell is set for a four-year deal worth $37 million. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because contracts can't be signed before July 7.
Powell is a restricted free agent, which means Dallas could have matched any offer from another team.
The Mavericks are also trying to pry a restricted free agent from two-time Western Conference champion Golden State, with plans to sign Harrison Barnes to an offer sheet on a maximum contract at four years and $95 million. The Warriors could match the deal if they miss out in their pursuit of Kevin Durant.
The three agreements in a span of two days come after the Mavericks missed out on their top targets in free agency for the fifth consecutive year. Memphis guard Mike Conley and Miami center Hassan Whiteside decided to stay with their current teams, both on maximum contracts.
Barnes is a potential replacement for Chandler Parsons, who has an agreement on a max deal with Memphis after two seasons in Dallas.
The 32-year-old Williams will make twice what the former Dallas-area high school star made in his first season with the Mavericks. The point guard joined them after taking a buyout in Brooklyn.
While his time with the Nets was marked by moodiness and frequent injury issues, Williams left an impression on coach Rick Carlisle by trying to play through a sports hernia in a first-round playoff loss to Oklahoma City.
Williams, who had surgery after the season, played a big role in helping the Mavericks to their only win in the series in Game 2. He sat out the third game trying to get ready to finish the series, but lasted just 89 seconds in a Game 4 loss at home. The Thunder won the series in five games.
Dallas' run of free agent futility started in 2012 with Williams, who was coming off his third straight All-Star season. He decided against coming home, choosing instead to stay with the Nets for their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn.
With the Nets looking for salary cap relief and buying out Williams' max contract before last season, he came back and helped take some sting out of the Mavericks losing DeAndre Jordan in free agency. The center had agreed to come to Dallas last summer before changing his mind and returning to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Williams reversed a three-year decline in scoring last season by averaging 14.1 points to go with a team-high 5.8 assists per game.
Powell, who turns 25 this month, is all Dallas has left to show for the ill-fated Rajon Rondo trade with Boston in December 2014. The Mavericks like his athleticism, and he is coming off career-high averages of 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in his fourth season.
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