So Long, Mo Gotti Williams

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/06/free_agent_point_guard_mo_will.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cavaliers have an obvious need for a ball-handler capable of creating scoring opportunities for themselves and others. There's a candidate exceedingly intrigued with potentially filling that void.

Soon-to-be unrestricted free agent point guard Mo Williams is "more than interested" in making a return to Cleveland, sources close to the guard informed Northeast Ohio Media Group.

However, due to their own pending powerhouse free agents, the Cavaliers will be limited in what they can offer. All they will have at their disposal is the taxpayer mid-level exception and the veteran's minimum. Williams is seeking a multiyear deal and the Cavaliers and Hornets are two of the teams at the top of his wish list, a source revealed.

The addition of Williams and retaining their core group would be a sizable improvement for a roster that was two wins away from ending a 51-year professional championship drought in the city.

Come July 1, the two parties are expected to communicate if Williams is open to the team's exceptions.

The 12-year veteran continues to play at a high level. In 41 games with Minnesota this past season in a reserve role, Williams averaged 12.2 points and in his 27 appearances for Charlotte, his scoring output shot up to 17.2.

The 32-year-old put up a 52-point game in January for the Timberwolves before being traded to the Charlotte for backcourt depth and assistance in making a playoff push.

He played two seasons with the Cavaliers from 2008-10. Along with LeBron James, Williams helped the team compile a league-best 66-16 record in his first year with the franchise. He was voted an Eastern Conference All-Star that same year.

Williams and James have a great relationship, I'm told. If a deal could be worked out, I'm told the four-time MVP would welcome him with open arms.

Move to Cavs talk! Mo Williams safari?

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/611984213286481920

Changed the name of the title. Its time!!

If Mo is willing to take the Taxpayer MLE for 3 years at about 10.5 million total with the third year being a non guaranteed team option, then that seems like a more than fair deal for both sides and a good use of that exception for us.

Provided, we use Haywood and the draft pick to acquire under 30 guys.

Mo can take the vet minimum and like it

Told u guys

MirORich said:

If Mo is willing to take the Taxpayer MLE for 3 years at about 10.5 million total with the third year being a non guaranteed team option, then that seems like a more than fair deal for both sides and a good use of that exception for us.

Provided, we use Haywood and the draft pick to acquire under 30 guys.

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That's a good deal. He's getting up there so I would definitely want to be able to get out of the deal if he falls off.

Just not that big on Mo. Vet minimum, fine.

But I just don't see the big need for another ball handler. I mean if Kyrie gets hurt we lack ball handlers, but if Kyrie gets hurt we aren't winning a title regardless of who we have backing him up. Mo Williams doesn't get us over the hump against Golden State.

We need another reliable wing with some size. Behind LeBron we have no one at all. We need another big that can actually stay healthy for more than a handful of games.

Caps going up and the guy just scored 17 pint per game over the past 2 months in Charlotte.

He's not going to be looking for the Vet min. And across the board with agents knowing the cap rise is coming, players are going to dig in for the best deal they can get.

If Mo comes on board for the min, great. Just don't see it happening. And not sure how many better players we can get with that 3 million per year MLE exception.

Rich said:

Just not that big on Mo. Vet minimum, fine.

But I just don't see the big need for another ball handler. I mean if Kyrie gets hurt we lack ball handlers, but if Kyrie gets hurt we aren't winning a title regardless of who we have backing him up. Mo Williams doesn't get us over the hump against Golden State.

We need another reliable wing with some size. Behind LeBron we have no one at all. We need another big that can actually stay healthy for more than a handful of games.

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I think they address all the holes on the roster this summer.

And before anyone else says it that is in fact what she said....

Rich said:

Just not that big on Mo. Vet minimum, fine.

But I just don't see the big need for another ball handler. I mean if Kyrie gets hurt we lack ball handlers, but if Kyrie gets hurt we aren't winning a title regardless of who we have backing him up. Mo Williams doesn't get us over the hump against Golden State.

We need another reliable wing with some size. Behind LeBron we have no one at all. We need another big that can actually stay healthy for more than a handful of games.

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Not having a 3rd ball-handler means playing one of Shump, Delly, or Smith if Kyrie and James rest. That hasn't worked out so good.

Mo Williams means that we can establish a core bench unit, and he and Smith can work alongside one another, synergistically, generating more scoring opportunities than they might otherwise get.

I think Mo really would bring our bench scoring up, substantially. He also allows us to run a rotation, match-up specific (defense permitting) of Williams, Irving, and James, with both Irving and James playing off-the-ball.

Williams is a decent 3pt shooter (was a great one), and has a good midrange game. He provides spacing, instant offense, and his passing game has improved since he left Cleveland.

He'd be a great fit, offensively, on the Cavs bench.

But he gives us absolutely zero back on the other side of the ball. He is not a two-way player, by any stretch of the imagination; so he's not useful in all lineups and against all opponents.

MirORich said:

Caps going up and the guy just scored 17 pint per game over the past 2 months in Charlotte.

He's not going to be looking for the Vet min. And across the board with agents knowing the cap rise is coming, players are going to dig in for the best deal they can get.

If Mo comes on board for the min, great. Just don't see it happening. And not sure how many better players we can get with that 3 million per year MLE exception.

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Agreed... we're on a roll here MirO..

Mo Williams was my #1 target for the taxpayer MLE; and I highly doubt we could get a better player, that fills the potential needs we have, than Mo.

He's also a fan-favorite and loves the city. Not really basketball related, but.. if Varejao deserves a ring; so does Mo.

gourimoko said:

But he gives us absolutely zero back on the other side of the ball. He is not a two-way player, by any stretch of the imagination; so he's not useful in all lineups and against all opponents.

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And that is what we will have delly for!

Ob1 said:

And that is what we will have delly for!

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Agreed.. Imagine if we could fuse the two together?

Can't imagine anyone would oppose him coming back. KI and LBJ are the only players currently on the roster that can really even consistently bring the ball up the court, much less run the offense.