Had things gone differently in the 2005 draft, George Karl might be coaching a different Denver Nuggets point guard at next Sunday's All-Star Game in Dallas. Not Chauncey Billups , but Deron Williams .
As he revealed Saturday, Karl was so impressed by Williams coming out of Illinois that the Nuggets "had a trade on the table" to acquire the No. 2 overall pick from Atlanta and were prepared to select Williams with it.
"There is no question that I thought he was going to be a great player," Karl said. "I like him because he has a passion and an energy for the game that's contagious. It's fun to watch, I think it's probably fun to play with, and it's very difficult to play against."
Karl said he couldn't remember why the trade fell through. Such a deal would have dramatically altered the NBA landscape, pairing Williams and Carmelo Anthony in Denver and likely leading the Jazz to draft Chris Paul with the No. 3 pick.
Before the draft, Karl attended a workout at Marquette that included Williams as well as Karl's son Coby . Williams still hadn't declared for the draft, leading the NBA to suspend Karl for three games and fine the Nuggets $200,000 for the coach's attendance.
Williams, meanwhile, said he was looking forward to playing for Karl, who will coach the Western Conference team.
"That's a coach that I respect a lot," Williams said of Karl. "I've gotten to know him over the last couple years. I think it's going to be great. Hopefully, I can get some [playing time]."
Star turn
Although he has a trip planned to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Carlos Boozer said he would welcome the chance to play in the All-Star Game as an injury replacement. Portland's Brandon Roy was ruled out for the game Saturday with his injured hamstring.
"It'd still be a huge honor," Boozer said. "You still get the respect of the league and you still get the honor to be in the game and the honor of being part of a great atmosphere."
Anthony's status also is uncertain as he missed his seventh consecutive game Saturday with a sprained ankle. Karl said he had a "pretty positive" conversation with Anthony about returning Tuesday.
NBA commissioner David Stern will select Roy's replacement and could opt for a guard such Golden State's Monta Ellis . It is not unprecedented, though, for Stern to choose a player from a different position, which could lead to consideration of Boozer.
Trade talk
With the Feb. 18 trade deadline fast arriving, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said he would not stand in the way of a trade made foremost to bring the Jazz's payroll under the NBA's $69.92 million luxury-tax threshold.
"I'm a coach," Sloan said. "I'm not going to say I only coach good players. If that would have been the case, I would've tried to get the best jobs there was in the world every time it's came up. I'm not into that. I've never been into that."
