And now they're linked by money. Less than two weeks after New Orleans gave Paul a contract extension, Utah has called a news conference for today to announce that Williams has agreed to an extension, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Friday.

The deal is for three years plus an option, the paper reported, and could reach a value of approximately $70 million, the maximum allowed by the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, with the option. Paul's similarly fashioned deal is valued at about $68 million.

Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor declined comment on the report.

Had he agreed to a five-year extension, Williams would have locked in $21 million in guaranteed money for the fifth year. By opting for the lesser package, Williams has the ability to become a free agent at the age of 28 or 29.

Williams was one of 12 NBA players named to the Olympic team last month following a season in which he averaged 18.8 points and 10.5 assists to help the Jazz to the conference semifinals.