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Deron Williams will head to the Beijing Olympics with a new deal with his National Basketball Association team, the Utah Jazz, in his pocket. On Friday, the Jazz said the star point guard had inked a multi-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but according to the Salt Lake Tribune, Williams agreed to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth season. While the precise value of the contract will not be known until the NBA sets its salary cap next July, the Tribune reported that Williams will make nearly 50 million dollars in the first three years of the contract and as much as 70 million dollars if he exercises the option year. The 24-year-old would not be eligible for free agency until 2012 at the earliest. "Continuing to lead the Jazz is exactly what I want to do," Williams said. "I am confident in the Miller family's commitment to the franchise and appreciate their confidence in me. We both want to bring a championship to Utah." Taken third overall in the 2005 draft by the Jazz, Williams recently purchased a home in the area and has spent most of the summer in Salt Lake City. "My wife, Amy, and I really enjoy living in Salt Lake and look forward to continue raising our daughters here," he added. After more than two weeks of negotiations, the Jazz completed a eal two days before Williams leaves for Las Vegas to join the Olympic squad for training camp. Last month, he was one of 12 players selected to the team, which will compete in the Beijing Olympics. "Deron is the cornerstone of what we have building over the past three years, and he is a significant part of our foundation for the future," Utah general manager Kevin O'Connor said. Williams declined to ink a five-year extension - the maximum allowable - and opted instead to follow in the footsteps of fellow young stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul, who all signed shorter deals to allow themselves flexibility to leave for free agency if their situations sour.
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