Report: Deron Williams Signs with Turkish Team, What NBA Stars Could Follow?

Report: Deron Williams Signs with Turkish Team, What NBA Stars Could Follow?

Deron Williams has been proactive in the wake of the 2011 NBA lockout.

News trickled out early on Thursday morning that New Jersey Nets point superstar point guard Deron Williams is close to an agreement with the Turkish team Besiktas according to TalkBasket.net.

This is not the first time that the team has experimented with bringing in an American point guard to run the offense, although the last candidate was Allen Iverson, and Williams will have a much greater impact than A.I. ever did during his tenure overseas.

Williams' signing marks the first major player who has reportedly agreed to go international in the wake of the lockout, although his agreement has an out clause that will allow him to return stateside and play in the NBA as soon as the work stoppage is lifted.

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Williams' departure will undoubtedly mean that some other notable names could be following him sooner rather than later, and it should be interesting to see which All-Star heads overseas next.

Kobe Bryant has already talked about a barnstorming tour through China, Andrei Kirilenko is very open to playing in EuroBasket & some second-round draft choices and undrafted free agents have already signed with international teams.

The signing of Williams by Besiktas was a move that almost nobody saw coming, and if they're able to lock up a deal, this would be a major, major victory for the Turkish club.

While the move was certainly unexpected and definitely will draw greater attention as the day progresses, it's extraordinarily notable considering the prowess that Williams has in the NBA.

This is a perennial All-Star, not a fringe talent, and it will be very intriguing to see how long it takes another big time name to follow in his footsteps and make a splash outside of the United States.

The league is going to lose more and more players to international competition for as long as the lockout progresses, and there's no doubt we'll see more and more signings as the labor issues get sorted out.

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