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Will the New Jersey Nets be able to re-sign Deron Williams next summer? That was the big question being asked after the Nets acquired Williams last month in exchange for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and two first-round draft picks. While everyone involved has discussed a future with Williams, nobody has been as blunt about the topic of re-signing the point guard as head coach Avery Johnson.

"We’ve been on the same page since day one," Johnson told ESPN 1050. "Deron grew up part of the time in San Antonio so he knew a little bit more about my history that I thought he would. We’ve gotten off to a good start. His wife gets along really well with my wife. We’re not going to assume anything, but there is no doubt in my mind that we’re not going to be able to re-sign Deron."

When given a chance to reconsider, Johnson didn’t back down from his stance.

"No doubt," he continued. "That’s the way it is. I can only tell you how I see it, and that’s how I’ve been my whole career. We’re really excited about Deron. We feel with him being the face of our team heading into Brooklyn, the combination of him and Brook Lopez can just be tremendous. If our supporting cast, guys like Kris Humphries and Anthony Morrow, continue to improve then we’re really heading in the right direction. You’ve only seen a snapshot of what these guys can do together. They haven’t been together for a hundred games and the playoffs yet. We’re excited about them."

Johnson joined the Nets last summer and he couldn’t be happier with the situation. He feels that the team has made huge strides this year, but that the best is yet to come.

"This season has been really good for us in so many ways," Johnson said. "When I first took over the job, I knew what I getting into. I knew this was going to be a total reconstruction project and I accepted that challenge. I came in and had the opportunity to work with just solid ownership in Mikhail Prokhorov and get a chance to work with Billy King on a day-to-day basis along with Bobby Marks, our assistant GM. It’s been great. Yes, we lost some games earlier in the year, but again, we knew it was going to be a process to get this team back to being a perennial playoff contender. By no means are we close to our goals yet, but we are heading in the right direction."

The Nets have won five games in a row, and Johnson believes that more than one player deserves credit for their recent success.

"Part of it has to do with Deron. He’s a terrific point that that can really dominate games with his passing, scoring, defense and clutch play. That took us to a level where we hadn’t been before, but you also have to attribute it to Brook Lopez and his role in the post. You have to attribute it to trading for Sasha Vujacic before Deron got here. We have Sundiata Gaines, a new point guard who is really giving us some life and energy. Our supporting cast of Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar and Travis Outlaw has also come alive. But one of the biggest stories for our team is Kris Humpries and what he’s doing on both ends of the floor with his consistent double-doubles every night. Deron sure had a lot to do with it, but we can’t just look Deron’s way. We have a lot of other nice stories that have happened with our team also," Johnson said.

New Jersey’s success has been the result of players winning their individual matchups in the fourth quarter. Johnson is optimistic that the team will continue winning games and those nice stories will continue to emerge as the team prepares for their move to Brooklyn.

"At the end of games, we’re starting to win the point guard matchup and win the center matchup," he said. "Now, with Kris Humphries, he’s starting to win his matchup at his position. You’re starting to see us win more games, especially close games. It’s a good feeling and we’re happy for our guys. We’re happy for our fans in Newark and we’re happy as we continue to progress for our big move into the Barclay Center."

But can the Nets make the playoffs this season? Since the minute Williams arrived in New Jersey, he has made it clear that he doesn’t want to be fishing come April. While he has been vocal about a Nets’ playoff push, Johnson said that he hasn’t stressed the goal to his team and admitted that it would be very difficult with the team six games back from the eighth seed.

"We don’t talk about it as a team," Johnson said. "Deron has been real consistent with his stance on that. When he first had his press conference here when we traded for him, he said that and that’s a great goal to have. I think that would just be a tremendous opportunity for us if we get that chance. But right now, with our team, we only talk about our next practice, our next shootaround and our next game. Then we evaluate that game to get ready for the next practice and next game. That’s how we’re going to continue and on April 13 or April 14, when the regular season is over, we’ll see how we stack up. But we’re going to have to get awfully hot to win it. I’ve had a team that finished a season 16-2 so that’s not out of the realm. It’s not impossible. I’m excited for our guys because they have put in a lot hard work and listened to what we’ve been preaching so they’ll be able to see the fruits of our labor."

The Nets are playing their best basketball and giving fans an exciting product. If the franchise can re-sign Williams like Johnson says, the future is going to be bright and the winning will only continue.

Ebanks Enjoying Rookie Campaign: Being the rookie on a contending team can be difficult for some players. Their playing time is erratic and it’s usually the first time in their lives that they have had to play a lesser role for a team.

While a lot of players struggle with this transition, Devin Ebanks has embraced it. He understands that the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the elite teams in the league and he’s focused on learning from his experienced teammates rather than trying to take their jobs.

"It prepares me a lot," Ebanks told HOOPSWORLD. "There are a lot of people here that can help me when I’m out there. If I mistake or they see something that I could have done better, they’ll lock into that. I’m able to learn things little by little, and I’m learning a lot. There are a lot of great players on this team. We have a lot of veterans and good young people as well so it’s good to get both sides."

When Ebanks was drafted in the second round of last year’s draft, there were some concerns about his NBA readiness. He was only 20 years old and critics wondered if he could contribute at this level and handle the professional lifestyle. Now, as his first season comes to an end, Ebanks says that everything went smoothly and as he expected.

"The travel is rigorous, especially when you’re on a long road trip that keeps you away from home for two weeks. I’ve gotten used to it a little bit though," Ebanks said.

{AUTHOR_BOX}"It has been pretty much everything that I expected," he continued. "When you come to a good team with good players, you’re expected to win every night and play at a high level every night. I like it. I’m used to being in situations like that because of how I came up so it’s been easy for me to embrace it."

Playing for the Lakers often means more exposure and more fans. While Ebanks has seen his number of Twitter followers climb throughout the course of the season, he doesn’t think playing in Los Angeles has changed how he’s perceived or the amount of attention he receives off the court.

"Nah, I’d say it’s pretty much the same," Ebanks said with a laugh. "I’m just trying to stay humble and keep level headed. It’s nice, but I just want to stay humble and be ready."

He goes up against Kobe Bryant in practice, he receives guidance from Phil Jackson and he’s spending his first season with a storied franchise that’s looking to complete a three-peat. It’s safe to say that Ebanks will be ready when his time comes.

McGrady, Dumars Discuss Future: When the Detroit Pistons signed Tracy McGrady last summer, they gave him a one-year deal to see if he had anything left in the tank. Teams such as the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers had already passed on McGrady and they weren’t sure what to expect from the 14-year veteran.

Seven months later, McGrady has become a part-time starter for the Pistons and proven that he can still contribute when given the minutes. He was part of the falling out between Detroit’s veterans and head coach John Kuester, but general manager Joe Dumars has expressed interest in re-signing McGrady this summer.

"I’ve had talks with Joe (Dumars) and he definitely wants to bring me back," McGrady told HoopsHype. "And I’m excited about him having that willingness to bring me back. But that is something that I will evaluate. Maybe I’ll be here again."

When reached through email, Dumars confirmed this interest.

"I’ve had conversations with Tracy about going forward beyond this season," Dumars wrote. "We both agreed that we would sit down after the season and discuss his future in more detail."

In 62 games with the Pistons, McGrady has averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 23.7 minutes. He has scored in double digits 25 times this season, and has also shown that he’s willing to come off of the bench, which was a primary concern for potential suitors last offseason.

McGrady will have to weigh his options in the next several months, but he has at least one team hoping to obtain his services. That’s more than he had around this time last season.

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