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New guard knows what his role is with Cavs
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:08 p.m. EDT, Aug 14, 2008
It's going to be some time before the Cavaliers know whether their latest roster
shake-up will work, but the snap reaction from the franchise's most important voice was warm.
Half a world away, LeBron James expressed plenty of optimism after hearing that General Manager Danny Ferry pulled off a trade Wednesday to bring in point guard Mo Williams from the Milwaukee Bucks. Ferry said he had talked to James and several other Cavs scattered across the country — and globe — in the past week while the deal was in the works.
''It can help us. I think Mo is a very good point guard,'' James said today in Beijing after Team USA beat Greece 92-69 in Olympics pool play, a game in which he scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds, had six assists and blocked three shots.
''He can create for himself and create for others, so it's a great move. I think it's an 'A.' ''
James' initial reaction should be a relief for the team's front office and fans, especially after he voiced the need for the roster to be upgraded at the end of last season. The general reaction across the NBA in the wake of the deal is that it was a strong move that came with some risk.
Williams brings a hefty contract (as much as five years and $43 million if he uses all his options) that adds to the Cavs' massive salary commitments for the next two seasons. Although he is the kind of offensive playmaker they have sought for years, insiders have questioned his ability to be completely effective alongside another offensive star. There were some rocky times with the Bucks and All-Star teammate Michael Redd, with questions about their on-court chemistry.
Plus he has not distinguished himself as a defensive player while the Bucks languished in the basement of the Central Division.
In a conference call Thursday from Vancouver, where he has been working out during the offseason, Williams addressed those issues head on and expressed his interest in fitting in with his new team and high-profile teammate.
''This is a different team. In Milwaukee, it was kind of a different culture. I scored a lot and things like that,'' Williams said. ''I don't have a problem fitting in. We know who is the leader of our team as far as 'The Man,' and we're all going to roll with him. Everybody buys into that.''
Williams acknowledged that his defense has been lacking the past several seasons, an issue he said he plans to address. The Cavs are convinced that within their system, which has been successful the past three seasons in generating team defense, Williams will turn up his effort.
''I'm excited about the opportunity to come in and get back to my defensive plays that I grew up seeing and doing,'' Williams said. ''It has been kind of different the last few years for me in terms of defense. I have the gifts to do it. You've got to want to do it. You've got to have the mentality to do it.
''I think you have to be focused. I got away from that the last few years, for whatever reasons.''
Williams said he will be comfortable playing off the ball at times but also is looking forward to taking some of the scoring load to keep James fresher as games and the season wear on. One of the reasons the Cavs sought Williams — even trying to sign him when he was a free agent last summer — was he can create his own shot and break down defenses off the dribble.
The Cavs' roster has had one player who consistently could do that: James. Others have needed pick-and-roll action or were spot-up shooters.
''Mo's quickness is something we haven't had since I've been here,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''We think he'll bring a dimension of easy baskets for us. We think the things he brings to the table will make us more dynamic offensively.''
Brown said he hoped Williams would be in Cleveland for some workouts with his new teammates next month, before training camp. He already has been working out with Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in Canada.
Williams had surgery on his thumb in May after sitting out the end of the season with an injury. He said doctors have cleared him, and he has been 100 percent for the past month.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
It's going to be some time before the Cavaliers know whether their latest roster
shake-up will work, but the snap reaction from the franchise's most important voice was warm.
Half a world away, LeBron James expressed plenty of optimism after hearing that General Manager Danny Ferry pulled off a trade Wednesday to bring in point guard Mo Williams from the Milwaukee Bucks. Ferry said he had talked to James and several other Cavs scattered across the country — and globe — in the past week while the deal was in the works.
''It can help us. I think Mo is a very good point guard,'' James said today in Beijing after Team USA beat Greece 92-69 in Olympics pool play, a game in which he scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds, had six assists and blocked three shots.
''He can create for himself and create for others, so it's a great move. I think it's an 'A.' ''
James' initial reaction should be a relief for the team's front office and fans, especially after he voiced the need for the roster to be upgraded at the end of last season. The general reaction across the NBA in the wake of the deal is that it was a strong move that came with some risk.
Williams brings a hefty contract (as much as five years and $43 million if he uses all his options) that adds to the Cavs' massive salary commitments for the next two seasons. Although he is the kind of offensive playmaker they have sought for years, insiders have questioned his ability to be completely effective alongside another offensive star. There were some rocky times with the Bucks and All-Star teammate Michael Redd, with questions about their on-court chemistry.
Plus he has not distinguished himself as a defensive player while the Bucks languished in the basement of the Central Division.
In a conference call Thursday from Vancouver, where he has been working out during the offseason, Williams addressed those issues head on and expressed his interest in fitting in with his new team and high-profile teammate.
''This is a different team. In Milwaukee, it was kind of a different culture. I scored a lot and things like that,'' Williams said. ''I don't have a problem fitting in. We know who is the leader of our team as far as 'The Man,' and we're all going to roll with him. Everybody buys into that.''
Williams acknowledged that his defense has been lacking the past several seasons, an issue he said he plans to address. The Cavs are convinced that within their system, which has been successful the past three seasons in generating team defense, Williams will turn up his effort.
''I'm excited about the opportunity to come in and get back to my defensive plays that I grew up seeing and doing,'' Williams said. ''It has been kind of different the last few years for me in terms of defense. I have the gifts to do it. You've got to want to do it. You've got to have the mentality to do it.
''I think you have to be focused. I got away from that the last few years, for whatever reasons.''
Williams said he will be comfortable playing off the ball at times but also is looking forward to taking some of the scoring load to keep James fresher as games and the season wear on. One of the reasons the Cavs sought Williams — even trying to sign him when he was a free agent last summer — was he can create his own shot and break down defenses off the dribble.
The Cavs' roster has had one player who consistently could do that: James. Others have needed pick-and-roll action or were spot-up shooters.
''Mo's quickness is something we haven't had since I've been here,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''We think he'll bring a dimension of easy baskets for us. We think the things he brings to the table will make us more dynamic offensively.''
Brown said he hoped Williams would be in Cleveland for some workouts with his new teammates next month, before training camp. He already has been working out with Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in Canada.
Williams had surgery on his thumb in May after sitting out the end of the season with an injury. He said doctors have cleared him, and he has been 100 percent for the past month.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
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