Cavs Get Some MO-mentum for '08-'09

Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry has been accused of inertia by many, but he pulled his second major trade since the beginning of the year by trading guard Damon Jones and forward Joe Smith to the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard Mo Williams.  The deal also involves the Oklahoma City Thunder as well, as Smith will be moved on to the Thunder ultimately along with Desmond Mason.  Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin will also move on to Milwaukee. It says here that it’s a good move for the wine and gold.

Here’s the first thing I can tell you about Williams.  We couldn’t stop him.  He is a quick point guard who can penetrate and score, something the Cavaliers have needed since they drafted LeBron James.  He is also just 25 years old, not turning 26 until December.  It has been said that he is a shoot first point guard, but he did rank in the top 15 in the league in assists, averaging 6.3 per game.  He has topped that mark in three of the four years he played with the Bucks.  He also can hit the outside shot, as he is a career 36% shooter from behind the 3-point circle.

The negatives about Williams, who played his college ball at Alabama, would be that at 6-1, he is smaller than Coach Mike Brown would like.  However, Brown pretty much taught the entire Cavs’ roster how to play defense, so if Williams is a willing pupil, he will improve on that end of the floor.  He also has had injury problems, missing 16 games last season, and has played more than 70 games just once in his five year NBA career.  Williams also has five years remaining on his current contract.

Losing Smith is tough for the Cavs because he was arguably the second best player acquired in the mega-deal at the trade deadline.  He’s a reliable offensive player who can make the mid range jumper consistently.  However, he is an older player with shaky knees.  He was not going to be in Cleveland for an extended run.  Jones is a one-dimensional shooter, who the coaching staff couldn’t trust because of his defensive limitations.  He made some big shots for the wine and gold, but overall he talked a better game than he played. 

This move also puts Delonte West (assuming he re-signs) in the role, most basketball experts feel he is best suited, that of third guard.  West can back up Williams at the point and Wally Szczerbiak at the shooting guard spot, or he could start along side Williams in the backcourt with Wally coming off the bench. 

As for the frontcourt, I would like to see first round draft pick J.J. Hickson to start the year getting Smith’s minutes, but probably Ferry will look for another veteran big man to take his place.  The trade also means that Anderson Varajao will have a bigger role on this team.  He may even stay with the Cavaliers for the entire season.

The bottom line is this:  The Cavaliers picked up a quality NBA point guard for virtually nothing of consequence.  Williams’ critics will say he’s a shoot first point guard, but he’s also never played with anyone as talented as LeBron James.  Having Mo Williams get into the paint where he can draw defenders and hit the open man gives the wine and gold a dimension they’ve not had for a long time.  Danny Ferry cashed in some expiring contracts and picked up a guy who will help the Cavs contend for a title.

JK