Donnie Walsh said the trade sending Deron Williams to the Nets came out of nowhere for him too.  Williams himself said he had no idea that the Jazz were even contemplating trading him.

"No, I didn't. I really didn't," Walsh said. "I probably should have thought about it because of Jerry [Sloan], when he left.  Not that it was Jerry leaving but the franchise could say, 'OK, we've got to go young now and start rebuilding."

But Walsh does not look at it as a lost opportunity.

"Not really. And I'm not going to comment on what I really thought. But I thought something," he added cryptically.

There were rumors over All-Star Weekend that Williams had told people close to him that he wanted to join the Knicks in 2012.  In a press conference announcing the trade, Utah's front office executives said they thought Williams had his eye on playing in a larger media market. 

The Jazz also said that the Knicks were never contacted and the Nets' offer was the only one the team even considered in a trade for Williams.

Deron Williams displayed a general contentment with the trade sending him to New Jersey and seemed to be in good spirits during his introductory press conference on Thursday.

But Williams was forthcoming about his thought processes over the last 24 hours.

He acknowledged that the trade sending him to the Nets came as a complete shock and it took him time to adjust.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous when I heard I was going to a team that is 17-40," Williams said.

But Williams accepted the deal after having time to think it over and talk to his wife.

Williams was asked if he would sign an extension to remain with the Nets after next season, the final year of his deal if he does not exercise a player option.  The team is scheduled to move to Brooklyn the following season.

"I can't really give any assurances that I'll be here.  You don't know what the future holds," Williams said, though he added that there is "a strong possibility" that he will remain with the team beyond his current contract.

He said he would not sign a contract extension with New Jersey over the summer, the earliest he would be eligible to do so, and indicated that his eventual decision will be impacted by the new collective bargaining agreement and the Nets' ability to improve the roster.

Williams thinks the Nets still have a chance to make the playoffs this season.

The Clippers and Cavaliers have officially executed their Baron Davis for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon trade.

Cleveland will also receive the Clippers' 2011 first round pick without any slot protection.

The Golden State Warriors have acquired forward Troy Murphy from the New Jersey Nets, along with the Nets’ 2012 second round draft pick, in exchange for forward Brandan Wright and center Dan Gadzuric, the team announced today.

The Warriors are expected to reach a buyout agreement with Murphy.

The Atlanta Hawks tonight acquired guard Kirk Hinrich and center/forward Hilton Armstrong from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans, Jordan Crawford and Atlanta's 2011 first round draft pick.

“We felt we had a good opportunity to improve our ballclub by adding Kirk and Hilton,” Sund said.

“Kirk is a well-rounded player that gives us options at both guard positions. In addition to being a solid and hard-nosed defender, he is a good shooter who can also distribute the ball. His resume includes significant playoff experience as well. Hilton can play both center and power forward, and will add frontcourt depth.”

The Jazz received signals from Deron Williams that he wanted to pay in a larger media market and was set to leave Utah when he could get out of his contract.

"We were running the risk of losing [Williams]," said Kevin O'Connor.

O'Connor explained that the team wanted to strike early so as not to be put in the position that the Nuggets faced when Carmelo Anthony decided he wanted out of Denver.

The Nets offer was the only acceptable one for Utah and once Anthony was sent to New York, the Nets moved forward on what O'Connor termed their "Plan B." 

O'Connor said the Jazz never contacted the Knicks about the widely reported offer the team had made for Anthony, which Denver ultimately accepted.

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired forward Carl Landry from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for guard Marcus Thornton and cash considerations.

“This is a trade that benefits both teams as Carl is a player we have looked to acquire for a long time and we hope to be a big part of our long term success,” said Hornets GM Dell Demps. “Carl is a high character person that will add a scoring punch to our front court while providing toughness and the ability to make plays. In order to get a good player, we had to give up a good player. We wish Marcus nothing but the best because he has a bright future in front of him. We want to thank Marcus for his contributions, energy and professionalism."

The New Jersey Nets have officially acquired two-time All Star guard Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard Devin Harris, forward Derrick Favors, two first round draft picks (Nets 2011, Golden State 2012) and cash considerations, Nets General Manager Billy King announced.

The Nets will also send Troy Murphy and a second round pick to the Warriors for Dan Gadzuric and Brandan Wright in a separate trade.
 
"We are very excited to add a player the caliber of Deron Williams to our roster," said King. "He is one of the premier point guards in the NBA, and his skill and talent level will bolster our franchise as we continue to build towards our goal of becoming a championship-caliber team." 

The Nets had been pursuing Carmelo Anthony for several months, but Williams is not a consolation prize from their perspective.

"This is not a plan B," Avery Johnson said. "It was just one that wasn't announced. One that nobody got -- until recently. He's not a plan B. He's a plan A also. We've been working on this for a while."

Utah recently lost head coach Jerry Sloan and now they will begin rebuilding with the Williams' trade.

“We feel that we’ve addressed a current need at point guard with Deron’s departure, as well as the future with draft picks and a big man,” said Jazz GM Kevin O’Connor. “To do so we had to give up an All-Star, but we feel like this is a win for both sides.”

• Click here for analysis from RealGM on the trade.

Carmelo Anthony is now officially a member of the New York Knicks.

The three-way trade involving the Knicks, Nuggets and Wolves has been approved by the league office and announced formally.

Going to New York with Anthony are Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams, along with Corey Brewer from Minnesota.

The Nuggets have acquired Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov from the Knicks, along with Kosta Koufos from the Wolves.

Minnesota has received the expiring contract of Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph, plus a second round pick from Denver.

Denver also acquires New York's first round pick 2014, second round picks in 2012 and 2013, plus cash.

As first reported by RealGM, the Nuggets will also acquire two traded player exceptions. The largest exception will be worth approximately $17.15 million. The Nuggets were originally going to acquire four traded player exceptions, but the inclusion of Kosta Koufos changed the equation.

According to Donnie Walsh, Carmelo Anthony was set to sign an extension before the end of the current collective bargaining agreement.  And he apparently would have agreed to do so with the Nets as part of an extend-and-trade transaction between Denver and New Jersey.

"I don’t think it would have happened, getting Carmelo [in free agency], because he would have signed an extension," Walsh said.

David Aldridge reports that Anthony was letting it be known, just prior to completion of the trade with the Knicks, that he thought he was on his way to the Nets.

"As late as Monday afternoon, Anthony was telling people he thought he was heading to New Jersey, since the Knicks were holding onto center Timofey Mozgov," writes Aldridge.