Cavs Trade = Mo Wins

[joepa66]

Mo Williams trade big for Cavs
Sporting News.com
Posted: August 13, 2008

Mo Williams is hardly a household name. It doesn't help that he's spent most of his career in Milwaukee, or that it took the 6'1" Williams a few seasons to pick up the point guard position. But he'd emerged as, if not a vital part of the Bucks squad, then a well-respected cog capable of putting up good numbers. After almost jumping to Miami last summer, he went on to put up 17.2 ppg, 6.3 apg, and 3.5 rpg, with decent shooting percentages to boot.

And yet somehow, Cleveland's acquisition of Williams is nothing short of momentous. While LeBron James is off establishing himself as the most dominant player on Team USA, Danny Ferry finally has managed a move that helps the Cavs win now. That it does, however, is a testament to both the mess this roster had been and just how tremendous an asset James is.

Cleveland had spent the summer haggling with Delonte West, who in the playoffs occasionally looked capable of handling the ball, creating his own shot, and knowing when to get it to LeBron. Daniel Gibson was signed--for around what West was offered--and all he can do is hit threes with dead-eye accuracy. Eric Snow, always limited, is now past his expired date. To say that the Cavs have a backcourt problem is an understatement; with LeBron spending most of his time at the three, the team has a guard problem.

Williams rectifies this almost immediately. He can shoot, score, distribute the ball, and not embarrass himself on defense. In short, he's like all the other Cavaliers guards rolled into one, for the low, low price of around $8.5 million per year. It seems like a lot for a team anxious about cap flexibility, but with Damon Jones and Joe Smith leaving town as part of the three-team deal (don't ask about Luke Ridnour's latest chance at redemption), Cleveland's still sitting more than pretty when it comes to finding LeBron some high-priced help--and hopefully take this team to the next level right as the King starts to weigh his 2010 options.

Their cap issues will keep them from signing any big free agents a year from now. But Wally Szczerbiak's expiring $13 million contract and Eric Snow's $7.3 million coming off the books, they could make a trade at the deadline for an All-Star. James, Williams and unnamed All-Star make post-season noise, and all of a sudden, the Cavs are a real force in the East just as LeBron's really weighing his 2010 options.

Then again, let's not forget that this Cavs team took the Celtics seven games this spring, and made it all the way to the NBA Finals in 2007 with a philosophy that boiled down to defense, rebounding, and occasional bouts of LeBron at his finest. Williams helps the Cavs from the tradition team-building perspective. Yet the Cavs have had success without addressing these concerns. Perhaps it's better to think of James as receiving a much-needed injection of competence into his clubhouse.

Forget about traditional roles and responsibilities. What this gives LeBron, night-in and night-out, is another perimeter guy who can seriously play. We all know James has a warrior's resolve, but imagine how different things will be for him once he no longer feels so alone in the skill position side of things. That's why Gibson got paid, and West seemed like a hot property--however briefly, they gave James some companionship in the wasteland of isolations and putbacks.

Maybe then, it wouldn't look so often like James was coasting, or putting up 30/7/7 without our even realizing it. Maybe there would be more than two games each postseason where he looked like the second coming of MJ. That, as much as filling holes in the roster, is what's going to make Cleveland an appealing long-term home for James. It's what he's experiencing in Beijing, albeit to almost surreal degree. And if Williams can bring some of that to Cleveland, it's a win/win for the team and James.

[homedawg]

That's a move in the right direction.

[Underdog88]

Originally Posted by homedawg

That's a move in the right direction.

Enough for me to get down on a Cavs future


Mo is a solid player, & should create space to get Boobie some open looks.

[CuseFan10]

Interesting to see LeBron meshes with a typically 'shoot-first' type point guard... Bucks obviously shed some payroll and have lots of confidence in Nevada product, Ramon Sessions.

[joepa66]

Awesome move by the Cavs......now look for them to unload Wally Szcerbiak, Eric Snow and get those overpaid namby pambys off the books. Look for them also to try and get a big man or two, The Wild Thing--Verajo--is a huge waste and Z would make a great backup center when they need to slow things down in the playoffs and play a half court offense......

[CuseFan10]

Originally Posted by joepa66

Awesome move by the Cavs......now look for them to unload Wally Szcerbiak, Eric Snow and get those overpaid namby pambys off the books. Look for them also to try and get a big man or two, The Wild Thing--Verajo--is a huge waste and Z would make a great backup center when they need to slow things down in the playoffs and play a half court offense......

Snow and Szczerbiak both have expiring contracts this season so maybe they are attractive to certain teams, but that's about it. The Cavs were applying for something like "disability retirement" for Snow to shed his contract but I'm not sure if it was approved or not. Either way, it's $20 million they have to spend next year, or maybe they can get a useful player for those contracts somehow.

[LLXC]

Finally a decent PG for the Cavs, though he's more of a scorer than a contributor.