Another summer, another former Cavaliers All-Star returns to Cleveland.
Last year, LeBron James.
This year, Mo Williams.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Mo Williams agreed to a two-year, $4.3M deal with Cleveland, including a player option, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2015
Williams had considered deals with San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans before committing to a reunion with the Cavaliers and LeBron James.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2015
Williams will get part of the Cavaliers’ $3,376,000 taxpayer mid-level exception. Depending how his deal is structured, they will have between $1,273,311 and$1,176,512 of the MLE remaining. That’s right around a minimum salary (which varies by experience).
So, Williams will be Cleveland’s lone major – used loosely here – outside free agent addition unless someone is willing to take a minimum contract or so.
But the Cavaliers have other chips – most notably Brendan Haywood’s contract. They can still get better.
For now, Williams fills one of the biggest holes on a pretty complete roster. He’ll back up Kyrie Irving and maybe play some off guard if Cleveland wants more minutes for Matthew Dellavedova and/or doesn’t re-sign J.R. Smith. Williams is a scorer first, but he’s also a solid passer. A ball-handler like him was missing off the bench last year.
The Cavaliers didn’t need much. They need even less now.
There’s a reason – beyond the name recognition of LeBron, Irving and Kevin Love – Cleveland is favored to win the 2016 championship.
