Will Besiktas pay Deron Williams?

Besiktas, the team that signed Allen Iverson last season and has now committed to give All-Star guard Deron Williams $5 million for a year in the event of a long lockout, is also one of the big-name European clubs with worse backgrounds in these matters. “Besiktas is the most fucked up team when it comes to this thing,” a Turkish player that requested anonymity told HoopsHype. “They are supposed to be one of the best teams in Turkey and the last few years even though they had the best players, they didn’t win because the players were mentally messed up (for not getting paid).”

Deron Williams probably will not have to worry about getting paid in time if he finally joins Besiktas. It’s his future teammates that have to be concerned. “Deron is going to get all his money, no doubt about it. He’s going to get a great apartment, a luxury car with a driver and security officers,” the Turkish player said. “He’s going to come to practice all happy and the rest of the guys are going to be late on their payments three or four months. It’s going to be the same story all over again. “I’m sure Deron is going to get all the money, but the people that are going to pay the prize are the Turkish guys and second-rate foreign players. A lot of these guys have had to go to court or FIBA to get their money.”