YES Network.com

One of the perks of having a five-year, $98 million contract to play for the Nets is apparently the financial flexibility to purchase your own NYC dream home.

According to the New York Post, Brooklyn point guard Deron Williams did just that recently when he purchased the 6,800-square foot penthouse in TriBeCa’s Merchants House building – a six bedroom, 4 ½ bathroom apartment that also features a 3,000 square foot terrace – for the bargain price of $15.8 million.

We say “bargain” because the home was listed at $16.9 million when it was taken off the market at the end of December, and ny.curbed.com reported that last July, when hip-hop mogul P. Diddy reportedly inquired about the penthouse, it was on the market for nearly $20 million.

According to the listing, in addition to the outdoor terrace big enough to hold half-court on, the apartment also has a “restaurant-grade” stainless steel kitchen and climate-controlled wine room.

Of course, with a contract at an average annual value of $19.6 million, Williams will have plenty of cash left over to furnish the new pad and stock said wine room when he and his family relocate from their previous digs in SoHo.

Want a peek inside? Check out these photos of D-Will’s new lair here, courtesy of ny.curbed.com.

Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroYES