When Deron Williams agreed to a buyout with the Brooklyn Nets and rapidly signed a new deal with the Dallas Mavericks a lot of people were thinking this would be a fresh start for the former perennial All-Star. It still may be for Williams, but as of right now it seems like the same old story with the 31 year old point guard as he is dealing with an injury and could miss the Mavericks' season opener, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas.
Williams had what was considered a minor calf injury back in the very beginning of training camp but it has yet to heal and it is obviously more serious than he originally let on. Williams has yet to complete a full practice with the team and they have already ruled him out for the remainder of the preseason while also saying he might not be able to play in the opening game against the Phoenix Suns on October 28th.
Williams had an MRI on the strain this past weekend and that showed that he has a calf strain and at the very least he will be kept out of contact drills for another week. Head coach Rick Carlisle thinks he is progressing but he isn't sure when he will be able to return.
"He's doing better, but he will not play in the exhibition games. We'll see if we can get him ready for the opener. It's been a frustrating thing for him, but we're making progress. We'll get there. I just don't have a timetable," said Carlisle.
Williams' four and a half year tenure in New Jersey/Brooklyn was marred by injuries and they quickly took him from one of the best players in the league to someone who everyone agreed was overpaid. The thought was that getting Williams out of Brooklyn and into a new environment with a new team, especially in his hometown, would rejuvenate him and he would be able to regain his old form but in order for that to happen he will need to be on the court.
Williams isn't the only Maverick whose status for the opener is in doubt though as Wesley Matthews and Chandler Parsons are both also uncertain for the game against the Suns. Both Matthews and Parsons have made it their goals to be back for the first game but Matthews seems closer than Parsons as he has been practicing full speed while Parsons has not been cleared for five-on-five work yet. It can be argued that Williams, Parsons and Matthews are the teams three most important players so having them healthy is essential for the Mavericks as they hope to make a playoff push again this season.
