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Deron Williams receives final payday from Nets nearly 5 years after buyout

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Brooklyn Nets have paid former star point guard Deron Williams roughly $5.5 million annually for the past five years for him to not play on the team.

However, Tuesday marks the final buyout payment in the agreement, according to NetsDaily's Anthony Puccio.

Williams signed a five-year, $98.8-million contract with the team in 2012. The then-28-year-old was coming off three consecutive All-Star appearances and the Nets were in the process of a highly anticipated relocation from New Jersey to Brooklyn.

But his scoring production fell in each of the first three seasons of his mega-deal; after averaging close to 20 points and 10 assists from 2009 to 2012, Williams' numbers dropped to 16 and seven from 2012 to 2015.

On July 11, 2015, the Nets used the stretch provision to get out from the final two years of Williams' contract, spreading his remaining $27.4 million in salary over a five-year span.

Williams would sign modest contracts with the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers from 2015 to 2017, offsetting some of the Nets' buyout contributions. His final career appearance was Game 5 of the 2017 Finals, during which he played 12 minutes for the Cavaliers off the bench in a losing effort to the Golden State Warriors.

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