Ties that bind — Deron's signing bodes well for team's future

So maybe Deron Williams didn't enlist for the rest of his natural life. Almost nobody, in any field, commits to that anymore.

Williams is a Jazz player at least through the 2011-12 season. That's not forever, but it is, as the marriage counselors say, a mutually committed relationship.

Observed Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor: "There's a presidential election coming up. The next time we worry about Deron's contract is the next presidential election."

By then everyone will probably have bigger things to worry about ($12 a gallon gas) than Williams' contract, anyway. "Four years," said O'Connor, "is a long time."

The Jazz point guard signed on the dotted line at a press conference Friday, making him the richest guy this side of team owner Larry H. Miller. His new contract guarantees him enough seed money to buy Moldova, with cash for pizza left over.

Last year Williams made $4 million. Under his new contract he will average $16.5 million-$17.5 million.

Thank goodness for merit raises.

"He's certainly gotten what he deserves," said O'Connor.

Friday's signing set the team's course for the foreseeable future. Securing Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver next year will certainly be important. But none of it would have mattered if Williams hadn't re-upped. Not only is he the straw that stirs the drink, he's the glass that holds it. Remove him and you're just pouring liquid on a table.

"It's gonna be fun. It's gonna be a blast," said Williams.

Would that be spending his money or earning it?

The signing of Williams was the Jazz's most significant contract extension since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Back then, the Jazz stars often agreed to terms before ever signing their contracts. The parties worked things out in ensuing weeks.

Nowadays it's more businesslike. Williams appeared 10 minutes late for Friday's press conference because he and club officials were upstairs at Zions Bank Basketball Center, working out last-minute details.

Stockton and Malone made it clear for most of two decades they weren't leaving Utah. So did Williams, sort of. He said he loves the state, the team and the fans, which he termed the best in the game.

At the same time, there was the unspoken reality that today's players don't hang around merely because a place fits their style. Other things, too, must fit, such as teammates, coaching and did we mention dollars?

"I'm going to be a Jazzman for a while," said Williams.

Thus, he passed on signing a four- or five-year extension, instead taking a three-year deal with an option. That's not as long as some, but as O'Connor pointed out, he could have waited and tested the free agent market.

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