Cleveland Cavaliers Report: Mo Williams Interested In Returning To Cavs

It has been nearly a week since the Cleveland Cavaliers saw their hopes of winning a title come to an end at the hands of a more talented, deeper Golden State Warriors team. One of the things that people will remember when they look back on the 2015 NBA Finals is the lack of playmakers on Cleveland’s roster once Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving both succumbed to season-ending injuries, especially the latter of the two players.

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And as the series progressed, the lack of a true ball-handler who could create for himself and others at the point guard position eventually doomed the Cavaliers when it was all said and done. Being that this will be one of the areas the Cavs will explore during the offseason, there is one interesting name that comes to mind in regards to filling that void: Mo Williams.

According to Chris Haynes of Northeast Ohio Medical Group, Williams has more than a casual interest in returning to the Cavaliers. And being that the Cavaliers are one of two teams that Williams would like to play for next season, it is expected that the two sides will be in communication with one another once the free-agency period begins on July 1.

The one upside to a potential reunion between Williams and the Cavaliers is that he can still produce at a high level even after playing 12 seasons in the league. To support this assertion, look no further than his outing against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 13.

In that contest, Williams poured in 52 points. No, that is not a misprint — I said 52 points. And thanks to his performance, the Timberwolves snapped a 15-game losing streak. Williams also handed out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds while shooting an impressive 19-for-33 from the floor, including 6-for-11 from beyond the arc. Williams became the first player to record a 50-point game, with his 52 points still a franchise record for the Timberwolves.

And although Williams split time between two teams during this past season—the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Charlotte Hornets, he proved that he can be a reliable second or third scoring option when his number is called. In 41 appearances with the Timberwolves, Williams averaged 12.2 points and 6.4 assists per contest on 44 percent shooting from the floor. And in his 27 games with the Hornets, his scoring average jumped to 17.2 points per contest, with his assists-per-game average remaining steady at 6.0.

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Another reason why adding Williams could be considered a positive is because of his past history with LeBron James. The two played alongside each other from 2008-10. And during his first year with the team, Williams and James led the Cavaliers to a league-best 66-16 mark, with Williams being voted to the All-Star team.

While this appears to be a beneficial pairing for all parties involved, the one factor that could prevent this reunion from taking place is that Williams is reportedly seeking a multi-year deal, but the Cavs can only offer the mid-level exception or the veteran minimum. However, if Williams is willing to leave dollars on the table for the chance at winning a title, then there is a very good chance that the two sides will find a way to make it work.

Furthermore, being that the Cavs advanced to the finals with two all-star players missing from the lineup, the chances of them making a return trip next season will increase dramatically if they are able to stay healthy and add a player of Williams’ skill set to the mix. And if that is the case, the outcome could be much different than what we witnessed this season.

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