Deron Williams is expected to decline his $5.6 million player option for the 2016-17 season and enter free agency, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports.

Williams is expected to decline his $5.6 million player option for the 2016-17 season and enter free agency, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis:

Williams wants to secure a multi-year deal before heading into his 12th NBA season. The veteran hasn't ruled out returning to Dallas and even appears to favor that route, although it remains to be seen if the Mavericks want to pony up to a multi-year contract for a player who will undergo offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia. The surgery requires a six-to-eight week recovery, so Williams is still expected to be available at the start of training camp. Once he officially declines the option, Williams will be an unrestricted free agent and will have the option to sign with anyone. In 65 games during the 2015-16 season, he finished with averages of 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 0.9 steals over 32 minutes.