Cleveland Cavaliers: Mo Williams, Less Problems

By Joshua Howe | Sep 28, 2015

Dec 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mo Williams (25) blocks a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters (3) in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

The subtlest move this NBA offseason might be one of the best. The Cleveland Cavaliers are already a juggernaut club looking to finalize some unfinished business (and LeBron James has a history of getting the job done) and thus didn’t really need to do anything this offseason except re-sign a bunch of free agents.

They managed to do that, thanks to Dan Gilbert dumping the contents of his wallet onto Adam Silver’s desk and screaming at the top of his lungs, “This. Is. CLEVELAAAAAAND!!!” What? None of you imagined it like that?

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Anyway, the Cavs did make one extra important move this summer: they signed former Charlotte guard Mo Williams to a deal. While this might not seem like much on the surface, it bodes very well for this season.

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Why? Well, there’s a number of reasons.

First, Williams already has chemistry with LeBron. He knows the style of play James likes to go into war with. In fact, when Williams was on the Cavs way back when, he made his only All-Star appearance (2009) thanks in no small part to the majesty of James.

Second, Mo is a 37.9 percent career three-point shooter. When LeBron is on the floor, he often handles the point guard duties, meaning that the PG who is on the floor at the time (if there even is one) needs to play the 2. This, in turn, essentially requires said player to be able to hit treys.

This is, among other things, one of the reasons the Cavs lost The Finals. Matthew Dellavedova isn’t that kind of player. He’s a third-string, scrappy, defensive minded grinder who will go out and provide some solid hustle minutes. He’s not out there being a knock down shooter from, well, anywhere.

In The Finals, LeBron found him on countless occasions for wide-open looks, but the Australian simply wasn’t able to hit enough of them because that’s not what he does.

Williams, on the other hand, is that kind of guard. He can drift to the corner or stray out beyond the arc and drain catch-and-shoot attempts. He won’t be able to give the kind of defensive energy that Delly does, but that’s not his role. Mo is an offensive-minded player.

Last season he averaged 14.2 points and 6.2 assists on 39.7 percent shooting from the floor and 34.2 percent shooting from deep. He switched teams midway through the season (from Minnesota to Charlotte), and it’s always important to keep in mind that when you play on a team with LeBron, getting open looks is about to get a lot easier.

Third, the Cavs desperately needed a true backup point guard. Like I mentioned, Delly is a third-string player. He’s great in that role, but having him play the floor general is a bit of a stretch.

Williams is more of a traditional guard and can run the team if need be. If, for example, David Blatt wanted to rest both James and Kyrie Irving, then Williams could run the show in their absence for extended periods (though the team will rarely be without one of those two on the hardwood).

He’s a 32-year-old veteran who has been in pressure situations and who has seen a lot throughout his years in the league. He’s a player that coaches are able to trust giving the ball to.

The Cavs didn’t need much more than what they already had. Their weaknesses remain few. Griffin managed to go out and cover one of those minor weaknesses in impressive fashion by grabbing Williams.

When the playoffs arrive in 2016, don’t be surprised when Mo-Will has a big moment. He just might be the final cog the Cavs are betting he is.

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