Lionel Hollins doesn't think Deron Williams is a franchise player

The Brooklyn Nets head coach declared that his point guard Deron Williams was not the centerpiece that he used to be after the team was eliminated in the first round.

Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins has a gift for clarity, even when he lacks a gift for successful NBA coaching. Following the team’s series ending loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Hollins admitted that point guard Deron Williams was no longer the player the Nets acquired him to be.

From ESPN:

"“He’s not a franchise player anymore,” Hollins said on Saturday morning during break-up day. “He’s a good player, he’s a solid player, but I don’t think he’s a franchise player anymore. That’s just my opinion. He’s a good player. I’m proud of the way he’s bounced back and played, and there’s so much pressure on him to be a franchise player, and everybody talks about a franchise player, but we need to have a franchise team."

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The piece of this quote that many will want to pull is when Hollins says that Deron Williams is no longer a franchise player. This is completely true, especially considering his poor showing during the Nets first round loss to the Hawks. Williams offensive struggles (39% shooting) and insistence on showing those offensive struggles (he still averaged 11.5 points) made it clear that he was more of a hassle than an asset.

However, that is not the crux of Hollins’ argument. The important part of that quote is not the fact that Hollins no longer believes that Williams is a franchise centerpiece, but the overall play of the Nets as a whole.

The Hawks struggled in the series to produce offensively, but compared to the Nets they were fluid, smart with the basketball and better at generating good ball movement. The Nets had an opportunity to take the series, but they lost this series more than the Hawks won it.

With that being said, the timing of this is poor by Hollins. To refer to Williams as a former franchise player shifts the blame away from himself right when the pressure on him is its highest. The Nets are likely stuck with Williams for the long term, but Hollins will need to improve as a communicator if he is going to remain in Brooklyn.

[H/T: ESPN]

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Lionel Hollins doesn’t think Deron Williams is a franchise player

By Luke Dahlgren | May 2, 2015

The Brooklyn Nets head coach declared that his point guard Deron Williams was not the centerpiece that he used to be after the team was eliminated in the first round.

More from Brooklyn Nets