NBA / Aug 13, 2008 / 2:56 pm
BREAKING NEWS: Mo Williams Traded to the Cavaliers
Welcome to Cleveland (photo. Darren Hauck)According to ESPN, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Oklahoma City have finalized a three-team deal with Mo Williams as the centerpiece going to the Cavs. This is how the deal looks:
Cleveland Gets:
Mo Williams
Milwaukee Gets:
Damon Jones
Luke Ridnour
Adrian Griffin
Oklahoma City Gets:
Desmond Mason
Joe Smith
The best part of this might be that Damon Jones found out that he got traded right after leaving ESPN’s studios, where he was talking with Chris McKendry as an “expert” on LeBron, discussing whether he would go to Europe for $50 million per year. When Damon got in the car, his driver told him that he’d been traded, and he got back on the phone with McKendry at ESPN.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Money Maker says:
1st!
this is good 4 cleavland cos they got to keep delonte! and probably worked out for O.C
August 13th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
justice says:
i get the felling gm’s don’t read the comments on this site much….if they did then dumb trades like this wouldn’t happen…i know lebron is pissed.
mo williams=short ricky davis
August 13th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
justice says:
oh i should have read that keeping delonte part! haha great move
August 13th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Honestly OKC got the best of this trade.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Octopus Jonny says:
As much as I wanted to see Redd and Mo separated, I have to say that this trade sucks for the Bucks. They give up the 2 best parts in this trade and get basically nothing in return…
August 13th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Logan Light says:
yeah… keeping D West was a good move, but I still don’t like it.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Octopus Jonny says:
..and Damon Jones UGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH
August 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
justice says:
@spliff
o.c got a good deal but a delonte, with mo coming off the bench lineup actually makes 1 all most all star player..
cleveland now has a guard problem
boobie,wally,west,williams,pavlovic,brown
August 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
shake&bake says:
So I guess those trade rumors really were heating up. Did OKC give up anyone? They just had to take Joe Smith?
August 13th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
that's whats up says:
they can’t let Damon Jones play.
Redd wasn’t getting enough shots as it was.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
TJ says:
I’m a Cavs fan and I have to admit that I like this trade.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
justice says:
this might sound crazy but who the f is gonna start at power forward is it gonna be ben? noooooo, varejao is an energy player if he starts he will foul out by the 9 min mark of the 1st quarter
August 13th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Ansonious says:
Good news for cavs fans but none the less Ben Wallace and his outlandish contract still leaves the cavs were they were last year trying to offload a shitty player with a huge contract. Who knows maybe the knicks could pass on the burden of starbary onto the cavs in exchange for someone who use to be a defensive nightmare ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m out like a donut hole peace.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Rev. Paul Revere says:
So Lebron is going from playing with Kobe, Melo, Howard, Wade & Co. to Mo Williams. I’m sure that’s enough to keep him away from Jay-Z in ‘10.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Batman says:
I guess it does help the Cavs since it gives them a reliable scoring option besides Lebron and Ilgauskas….though Williams isn’t the ball-handling PG I would think they need.
Would Mo Williams rank as the best player that Ferry has tried to get for Lebron? If so, that is kind of sad.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
K_Digital says:
I understand Milwaukee’s need to get rid of Mo but did they really have to give away Desmond Mason too??
I’m from Milwaukee (and I try my hardest to be a Bucks fan) and I think they could have gotten a lot more for Mo without having to give up their only player that plays defense. This trade is gayness in the anus!
August 13th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Austin Burton says:
J.J. Hickson was a big hit in the summer league, so while Ben Wallace will start at the PF right away, I think they’re grooming Hickson for the job.
Funny how the “Sonics” get Des Mase back right after blowing town. I remember when he was involved in the Payton/Allen trade and the people here were livid because Mason and Rashard were supposed to be the future of the franchise.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Austin Burton says:
FYI, Mason went to Oklahoma State and is from Oklahoma. He’ll be a huge hit with the OKC fans.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
doc says:
Good trade for Cleveland But I like OKC pickups more.Mo dont need to handle the ball with Bron out there he just gotta go stand on the wing like Damon Jones did, and when Bron pass him the rock he can do more with it then D Jones can.Just made it a little bit harder to guard Bron and leave everybody else.That makes Bron team dangerous.He already was turning shit to silver.Im not saying its enough to make him chill after 10 but if he take these jokers to the chip we will be more accepting of it instead of amazed at it.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Austin Burton says:
One last note: Also funny how the “Sonics” get rid of Luke Ridnour right after leaving. You could argue the only reason they kept him for so long was because he’s a local kid (from Blaine, Wash.) and a crowd favorite.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Austin Burton says:
I don’t think Cleveland needs to limit guys by having them stand in the corner while LeBron goes to work. That was part of their problem in the first place; that no one besides LeBron could create a shot. I’d give Mo some freedom to use his skills to create on the offensive end, but don’t let him get too crazy like he’d tend to do in Milwaukee.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Dennis Castro says:
How many chances is Danny Ferry going to get to build around Lebron.
I say if he hasn’t figured it out yet, he never will.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
justice says:
the good thing about mo is that he can create his own shot and cleveland needed that, but the bad thing is u just signed boobie to an extension and u get another guy with similiar skills?
where does boobie fit in the rotation if delonte starts, and mo is the backup? i thought cleveland would go after a big guard maybe a marquis daniels type…but someone will be glued to the bench this year..the smart money will be on wally, and devin…pav might see some burn if lebron plays some 4 as we all expect
August 13th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
CHEE says:
good pickup for cavs.
but they need get anothe player who is borderline allstar to back lebron up.
also i thought joe smith was their best big man in post season last year.
too bad they couldnt keep smith and trade away overrated side show bob or over the ill bu-bu-bu ben wallace.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
doc says:
Yeah they gonna do that to AB but Im just saying we all know in the clutch of tight playoff games his ass going somewhere by that 3 point line and if Bron pass it to him thats when he can shine.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Magnifico says:
i like the trade, better than them not doing anything at all. got to wonder what the bucks are up to though.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Tyrone says:
Yo cuz, this sh#$’s for real y’all. Dem Cavs are gonna be rockin’ the Q next year, brah.
Payce.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
CHEE says:
to answer comment #23, i dont think west is coming back now that they have Mo and boobie.
i think having Mo and boobie backing him up is good. now they are all set at pg.
the only thing i’m worry about is who gonna kiss lebron’s ass now that damon “self proclaim best shooter in the world” is gone.
who gonna do that matrix celebration w/ lebron now? big z? lol
August 13th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
I dont like that the Cavs gave away Joe Smith.
I think he was their best PF during the playoffs, was a good pickup from Chicago, and a good veteran presence off the bench.
I dont like Mo Williams either, but atlest they kept Delonte.
I dont understand why Milwaukee picked up Ridnour, i like the kid’s game but isnt Skiles a defense first type of coach?
August 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Brown says:
Danny Ferry is just trying to improve the talent level of the team, little by little. He’s not addressing the team’s needs, which should be a GM’s main concern.
Getting Mo is a talent upgrade, but it doesn’t make their team any better. As good as Lebron is, I don’t see him carrying this bunch to a title.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
aj says:
OKC did enjoy Mason while the Hornets were there. Too bad he’s not as good as he coulda been.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
richard from cleveland says:
i feel this is a good trade s the cavs they get a person that will shoot i bet they could have put mo 2 work against the celtics in that game 7. he wuld have hit the shots when lebron called his number. … another thing is i dont think danny ferry is done we still got the expiring contracts of wally and i think eric snows as well o we could get one more big name player 2 compliment lebron. maybe someone like ak47 or sumbody that wants off their team. go cavs!!
August 13th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Hugo says:
I don’t know why some say it’s a bad move. Cleveland gave up salary and got a good player. Smith is still a good third string pf and jones is done. Williams is not the best player on the world, but you give those 2 players to get him and everything is fine. Adding west to this would have killed it. But now you sign West and things look better. I think that when you play with James, any player would see the chance to do something special and because of that I don’t think Williams will create any problems. At least he is a player who can score, the past year it was only James, Boobie and sometimes Big Z. If they can find another PF, that team can look even more dangerous. James is becoming a player that can win a series by his own, if you add some good players, he will do wonders. By the way, he carried the cavs to the finals basically with a rookie. Give him some talent and get out of the way …
August 13th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Jake says:
That’s some real insightful comments there #27.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Brown says:
@Hugo
Let’s not kid ourselves here with all the “Lebron took a bunch of scrubs to the finals” talk. Winning the worst conference in NBA history doesn’t mean shit. They beat Detroit in a tough series, that’s all you can say about that playoff run. If the Cavs played in the West that year, they would have been knocked out in the first round.
The East has improved over the past couple years. The Cavs haven’t.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
justice says:
#34
lmao i thought i was the only one thinking that…who is that guy
August 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
igp says:
What about wally and snow for zach randolph?
August 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
“Jake says:
That’s some real insightful comments there #27.”
Lol, I’m picturing Young Berg writing that comment, and then reading Jake’s comment and just not realizing…
August 13th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
justice says:
#34
lmao i thought i was the only one thinking that…who is that guy
#27 slap yo self
August 13th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
E says:
i’m from milwuakee and i’d take ridnour over mo anyday. ridnour’s contract expires in 2 years (i think). neither can play any D. with jefferson, redd, bogut…we need a more pure point guard that’s willing to pass the ball and buy into the team concept. with mo gone, guarantee redd will bounce back and have a better season this year. as for cleveland fans, have fun being frustrated by mo this year taking bad shots, playing no D, and acting like he’s the best player on the floor.
August 13th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
GEE...Burn baby burn like Lisa Lopez...poor Rison. says:
LOL @ clownin on 27. Kids and computers.
I would say Cleveland is looking for an answer to help resolve things come playoff time. Personally I don’t think Mo is it.
Funny how a player will say exactly who he would love to play with, and the GM’s and what not go an opposite way.
Damon Jones. The guy can hit the 3. What else?
August 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Diego says:
Joe Smith was solid last year both for the Bulls and Cavs. The Cavs keep shuffling the deck, but not much changes. The Cavs forwards (other than LeBron) are pretty bad these days; Smith was the best.
OK City made out like a bandit on the trade.
Unless you live in or near Milwaukee, who cares about the Bucks? When are they moving to Vegas? (This coming from a Hawks fan; I know I have no business slamming the Bucks–just a tough day.)
August 13th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Tha Boddy says:
With Mo jacking up all those shots maybe LeBron will move on to the next step of his career and average his first double double (pts,rebs)and maybe even a triple double because Mo can get him some assists to go with those rebounds from the misses he will have…any1 else agree???
August 13th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
the mamba says:
Daniel gibson to houston for one of their many hustlin pf’s?
August 13th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Jah says:
I like this for Milwaukee:
PG - Luke Ridour
SG - Michael Redd
SF - Richard Jefferson
PF - Charlie Villanueva
C - Andrew Bogut
—
Joe Alexander, Joe Smith, Damon Jones, Adrian Griffin, etc.
That’s an offensively talented starting 5 and this trade should put an end to the reported Redd/Williams locker room problems.
Now in Cleveland we have something like:
PG - Mo Williams
SG - Wally Szczerbiak
SF - LeBron James
PF - Zydrunas Ilgauskas
C - Ben Wallace
—
Delonte West, Daniel Gibson, Anderson Varejo, etc.
More consistent points from the backcourt and more 3 point threats for LeBron to kick out to once the defense collapses (Boobie, Mo, Delonte, Wally…). Not a bad pickup.
Which leaves us with OK City sporting:
PG - Earl Watson
SG - Kevin Durant
SF - Jeff Green
PF - Chris Wilcox
C - Johan Petro
—
Russell Westbrook, Damien Wilkins, Nick Collison, Desmond Mason, Joe Smith, etc.
I think it’s only a matter of time before Russell Westbrook becomes the starting PG but as far the trade goes, they’ve beefed up both wing positions and added some frontcourt scoring with Joe Smith
This is the first time in a while that I’ve felt that a trade was this good for all parties involved.
August 13th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Luigi says:
oh boy. im not feelin this one….OKC got the best one. Mil got the worst trade. CLE got a decent trade
but LBJ is gonna be gone. i think Mo is a cancer
August 13th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
D-Rock says:
omg
john hammond is milwaukees savior
he gets us RJ and then gets rid of mo” i think im kobe” williams and yi im sooo happy
but its sad to see dmase go he came to my high school last year and was a real nice guy not to mention he can throw down with ne muthas out there
August 13th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Michael says:
Yeah, just what Lebon needed a shoot first hot dogging point gaurd.
August 13th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Coop says:
Woof!
August 13th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Dagomar says:
lol @ 34
This was not a bad trade for Cleveland, but I still don’t like the team. Mo Williams is a decent player - definitely an upgrade over Delonte - and he’s young, which is key. But he couldn’t coexist with Redd; Ferry better hope he can coexist with Bron. If Mo hogs the ball again he won’t last long. And that frontcourt is just so bad. Z is way too old, Varejao is worse than Kwame Brown, and Ben Wallace is DONE. They better hope Hickson develops real fast.
Still, if they can get some help up front than Mo/Gibson in the backcourt have some potential, and if they resign Delonte he’d be great off the bench. I like it for the Cavs. For the Bucks? Everyone thinks Ridnour sucks, and he’s still overrated.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
hoopsguru says:
Des Mase is the first player to play for the same team twice in the same city that isnt the same team. He played for New Orleans when they were in OK, and he played for the Sonics, who are now OK
interesting
August 13th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
kobeef says:
@JAh
Joe Smith went to OKC - not Milwaukee who seem to have been given the shitty end of this deal. Damon Jones? Ridnour? Griffin? What, exactly, convinced the Bucks to do this?
OKC got the best of the deal although both players will probably come of the bench.
Cleveland again makes a pointless trade that will rank just behind the Ben Wallace trade in 2010 as the top reasons for Lebron’s departure. It seems like the Cavs are only capable of trading garbage for garbage. Just like the Ben Wallace trade, this will make the cavs different on paper but not any better on the floor.
Does Mo do anything that Gibson, Delonte or Eric Snow don’t already do?? Do they really need 4 PG’s?
I guess you could say Delonte and Gibson are SG’s but then you need to ask why the Cavs have Wally World and Pavlovic.
The Cav’s low post options are looking really sad.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Ferdiberdi says:
The Mo upgrade seems like the first step. They have some expiring contracts left so I think there are still some moves Ferry can go with.
A trade for a better PF might do it. LBJ needs someone to dump it to for easy baskets when they gang up on him in the perimeter.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Dave says:
I think each of the three teams served their needs well with this trade.
Mo is an upgrade for Cleveland but not much of one. Not enough to make them the favourite over Boston. Cleveland need to do more.
The JR Smith rumour, his signing would added more to the club than Mo Williams will.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Lady Luck says:
I pushed for this trade last year because I think Mo Williams was an upgrade over anything else we had. However, I don’t like that we gave up Joe Smith. Not that he’s dominant or anything, but he was the best PF for the Cavs last year. But overall I’m happy because…
WE FINALLY GOT RID OF DAMON JONES!
August 13th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Lady Luck says:
I agree with Dave. I think JR Smith would be a better fit. Any chance that can happen now?
August 13th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
go cavs says:
How come no one mentions JJ Hickson? That dude is going to be a beast in no time. He will be starting this season and will make a huge impact.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Magnifico says:
@ lady luck: yup at least damon jones was dumped! Finally.
Now if the cavs could get rid of eric snow and wally… i think that’s a serviceable team for LBJ to have.
and for mo, welcome to Lebron’s world. gunning is required only during garbage time hehe.
Just a thought, almost all of Ferry’s free agent moves years ago are now gone. Donyell (out), Hughes (out), Damon (out). he’s desperately cleaning house, a bit slow but he’s trading the old parts.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
dagwaller says:
Dumb. Not that it’ll kill the team or anything - maybe Ferry will look like a genius this time next year a la Danny Ainge or Mitch Kupchak.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Ding Dong We Got Big Snacks says:
Who gets Damon Jones’ red jacket?
It should be retired in the Cavs’ rafters.
Again, a trade that tastes like a kick in the mouth for Lebron. Imagine the Cavs’ first day of training camp and these stooges turn up in front of Lebron? He’d be out of there before you can say “souvlaki”
August 14th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Ding Dong We Got Big Snacks says:
and….The Cavs front office reminds me of they guy who comes to renovate your house, promises you the world, shows your the fine marble slats, the shiny kitchen sink, the rich brown wood floor boards etc.. then when the work is done, you tell him it sucks, and he says he will fix it, but now he’s busy and got other jobs on, and by the time he is finished, it’s still crap, but the 4 week job has turned into 6 months, and you have paid 5 times more than your budget… and it just takes on a life by itself. Before you know it, you’re broke and eating stale cereal in your $200,000 kitchen. Enjoy the cereal Lebron.
August 14th, 2008 at 6:09 am
gee the steph fan says:
Delonte isn’t coming back? Anyway Ridnour is vastly underrated, he’s a rEAL PG that can shoot. BEing the Steph Fan, just this: Donnie Walsh in a meeting with season ticket holders talked about the team, said he had to trade Balks so he’d play, but about my ‘boy’ Starbury:
HE SAID HES STAYING. HE SAID MARBURY HAS BE SUPER TALENTED AND PRODUCTIVE IN THIS LEAGUE, HE’S GIVING HIM A CLEAN SLATE, DOESN’T CARE WHAT HAPPENED HERE BEFORE HE GOT HERE.
Sounds like Isiah is REALLY the BLAME, not any one player. And it certaintly wasn’t Marbury’s fault. You think D’antoni is gonna want the third option to lead the team, like Isiah and Larry Brown was trying to do?
So happy Marbury isnt getting railroaded.
Who cares about this doo doo trade anyway? Yall just starving for any news. BRETT FAVRE MFers! Thats a trade, not this garbage with loser players. Go NY
August 14th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Kobeef says:
@Gee
Steph is at the Steve Francis stage of his career but with a worse attitude. How can that be good news?
That said, keeping steph on the books so that his contract expires at the end of the season is probably one of the best options the knicks have.