Cavs trade Mo Williams for Baron Davis

• BR1986FB

  WKNR is saying the Cavs likely aren't done. God I hope they can somehow dump Jamison's contract.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  I dont understand this deal if I'm the Clippers, they get of a bad contract for a slightly better contract and give up a potential lottery pick. As a Cavs fan though I like the deal, big ups Grant. Now wheres idiot Dynasty to bash the Cavs and the move?
• KR1245

  

  Grant was getting greedy
  
  Per Jason Lloyd:
  
  #Cavs tried also getting Minny's unprotected #1 next yr, which LAC holds. LAC wouldn't do it. Likes next year's draft better than this year
  
  I like this trade. Cavs could possible have 2 top 10 picks. I'd take Irving and T Jones to start the rebuilding process
• Wooball

  

  BR1986FB;689744 wrote:WKNR is saying the Cavs likely aren't done. God I hope they can somehow dump Jamison's contract.

  
  Cavs still have the TPE. Not sure if that will get moved here before 3:30 or not, but I expect them to use it before it expires in July. I will be surprised if Anthony Parker is still a Cav tonight, but not sure what that is going to net us. The only team I can see that would have any interest in Jamison would be someone like the Dallas Mavericks, but if I had to bet, I would guess we keep him and lean on his veteran presence and then try to deal him next year when he is a large expiring contract.
• se-alum

  

  Wooball;689743 wrote:The Clips will save quite a bit of $$$ over the next two seasons. Moon expires after this year. Mo makes approximately $17 million over the 2 years after this. Davis makes about $29 million over those same 2 seasons. Mo is also 3 years younger. The Clippers are going to get close to the same production from Mo and save $12 million over the next 2 years. An unnamed Clippers exec said this trade shows how much they hate this draft, although they are going to put that spin on this trade, rather than coming out and saying that they made a mistake in signing BDiddy to that "fat" contract and are doing this to save $$$.

  
  Good point, but I still wouldn't be happy as a Clip fan. Basically say, we don't care much about building a team as long as we save money, which I guess shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
• mucalum49

  

  se-alum;689771 wrote:Good point, but I still wouldn't be happy as a Clip fan. Basically say, we don't care much about building a team as long as we save money, which I guess shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

  
  I don't think its that. I think they just don't see a guy coming out that will be able to help them. I think they took a step forward in having Mo over Baron. While he may not bring something new to the table, hes younger, signed longer and frees up more cap space. They still have 2 picks in next years draft which they seem to like more than this years. Sounds like they are building a team and saving money.
• KR1245

  

  Cavs' bold trade move gives fans hope for some wins: Terry Pluto
  Updated: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 8:51 AM
  By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
  
  Suddenly, Cavalier fans have a reason to hope.
  
  That's because the Cavs have positioned themselves to have – at the very worst – two selections in the top 10 of the NBA draft. At the very least, one of those picks should be in the top five.
  
  That's what the trade of Mo Williams and Jamario Moon to the Clippers for Baron Davis and a No. 1 draft pick was all about.
  
  That's right, the Cavs just added a potential second lottery pick. For a team in a massive and desperate rebuilding project as it still digs through the rubble of LeBron James bolting for Miami – the fastest way out is assembling as many high draft picks as possible.
  
  At the moment, the Cavs have the worst record in the NBA. With their own selection, they would pick no lower than No. 4. They'd have about a 12 percent chance to own the draft's top pick in the lottery.
  
  The Clippers are at No. 8, and that pick also should produce a good player. And maybe, just maybe, if the Cavs actually have some lottery luck – it ends up in the top five.
  
  The price for the pick is about $12 million.
  
  How so?
  
  In the next two seasons, Baron Davis will earn slightly more than $14 million annually.
  
  Williams will be paid about $8 million annually.
  
  That's a difference of about $6 million a year – or $12 million.
  
  That's why the Clippers were willing trade a lottery pick. They wanted to dump the 31-year-old Davis and his contract.
  
  The deal doesn't mean the Clippers are enamored with Mo Williams. The former Cavalier simply earns less money.
  
  The Clippers also believe the 31-year-old Davis is breaking down physically with his cranky knee.
  
  He also jacks up nearly four shots a game from 3-point range. That's far too many for a point guard who shoots 29 percent behind the 3-point line. He is a point guard whose strength is driving to the basket along with setting up teammates with his passes.
  
  Some nights, it will be very frustrating to watch Davis.
  
  Then again, the same can be said of Williams. Emotionally, he was been discouraged since James left. He also has been battling groin and hip injuries. At 28, he's missed 21 games and also has had trouble staying healthy.
  
  Moon was added to the deal to make it work on the salary cap – a smart move, because the Cavs have retained their $14 million trade exception to be used in a future deal.
  
  So the Cavs really didn't like what they saw from Williams since James left – and the Clippers were disgruntled with Davis because of his sagging production and bloated contract.
  
  Davis will not be happy with the trade. He wanted to stay on the West Coast. He grew up in Los Angeles. Early in his career, he feuded with Byron Scott. Davis has since praised the current Cavs coach as someone who helped Davis mature when they were together in New Orleans in 2004.
  
  Davis is currently bothered by a swollen knee, a problem for him over the years. He is averaging only 12.8 points, a career low. He's shooting 41 percent from the field, but delivering 7.0 assists per game. He is no longer the All-Star guard and 20-point scorer of a few years ago.
  
  But he still helped the Clippers. Consider that they were 3-12 in games he missed, 18-25 when he played. This also could be a good sign for the Cavs, because the Clippers may be a worse team without Davis for the rest of the year. That would help the Cavs add even more lottery ping pong balls and possibly enhance their draft position .
  
  This trade does have the some significant risk. Davis has a volatile personality. Scott is not the only coach who has battled with him. This season, he has been ejected from two games and whistled for eight technical fouls. It's hard to imagine his temper will improve with the trade to Cleveland.
  
  But Davis also may find himself on a promising team next fall. That's assuming the Cavs do their homework and draft well. So now, the pressure is on General Manager Chris Grant and his scouts to make the right draft picks and perhaps swing another trade.
  
  Davis can either go with the rebuilding program and help mentor young point guard Ramon Sessions -- or the Cavs can trade or perhaps him buy him out of his contract.
  
  When it comes to dealing for Davis – it's impossible to know how they will work out for the Cavs. But trading Williams? Adding a lottery pick? Those were absolutely terrific moves for the Cavs. That's why this is a trade that they positively had to make.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Thought this was interesting.
  
  The Clippers would give up a likely top-10 lottery pick to make the savings happen. "That just shows you how much we hate this draft," one Clippers source told ESPN.com.
  
  But the lottery pick from the Clippers was exactly what the Cavs were after. A Cavs source told ESPN.com that the trade was made primarily for the draft pick.
  
  "We know we're going to have to build this team through the lottery," the source said. "We hope Baron works out, but our primary focus was the pick. We really wanted two top-10 picks to infuse the team with young talent."
  
  Read more here: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6153550
• Fly4Fun

  

  Who cares if the Clippers really hate the draft? It's not as if they have been good historically at evaluating talent. There is a reason they are one of the worst franchises in professional sports.
• dave

  Love this trade.
  
  I hope they shut Baron down for the rest of the year. Let Sessions keep developing. Baron is still good enough to win a few games on his own and that is the last thing the Cavs need.
  
  I think it's good for the Clippers too. They need cap space to make some moves, Blake is in his 2nd year already. They need another piece to keep him satisfied so he stays.
• trep14

  So is Mo Williams going to be the new Clipper that Donald Sterling heckles from his courtside seats?
• Wooball

  

  mucalum49;689778 wrote: While he may not bring something new to the table, hes younger, signed longer and frees up more cap space.

  
  Why do people keep saying this? Both these guys are signed for 2 more years after this.
• KR1245

  

  Fly4Fun;689821 wrote:Who cares if the Clippers really hate the draft? It's not as if they have been good historically at evaluating talent. There is a reason they are one of the worst franchises in professional sports.

  
  Exactly
  
  Cavs are still going to have a top pick in the 2012 draft anyways. I wouldnt be surprised to see another move (this year or next) that will land them another first round pick again next year. They were going to flat out cut Jamario Moon, instead they use him, save their TPE and grab another top 10 pick. This is a great move
• Pick6

  

  Mo was one of my favorite Cavs..
  
  mogotti2 Mo Williams
  I wanna say thank you to all Cavs fans. It's been great. We've had some really good yrs and memories. I will never forget u guys
  
  mogotti2 Mo Williams
  @cavsdan I love u man
  
  
  good luck to him.
• BR1986FB

  Pick6;689856 wrote:Mo was one of my favorite Cavs..
  
  mogotti2 Mo Williams
  I wanna say thank you to all Cavs fans. It's been great. We've had some really good yrs and memories. I will never forget u guys
  
  mogotti2 Mo Williams
  @cavsdan I love u man
  
  
  good luck to him.

  
  Wasn't a Mo fan but I wish him the best. I think Lebron stabbing him in the back was kind of a kick in the nuts to him and he was basically like a dog that has been beat too much. Lost his spirit. Hopefully he regains it in a new market. This team won't be exocised until all of Lebron's butt buddies are gone.
• dave

  May 17th is the draft lotto.
• mucalum49

  

  Wooball;689835 wrote:Why do people keep saying this? Both these guys are signed for 2 more years after this.

  
  Per ESPN: Davis is still owed nearly $28 million over the next two seasons and the balance of his $13 million contract this year. Moon's contract expires after this season. Williams is owed the balance of his $9.3 million salary this season and, with player options of $8.5 million for each of the next two years, potentially could get out of his contract altogether.
  
  You're right. I read it as this season and next season = two seasons, didn't see the "this year" at the end. My bad.
• dave

  Not sure if they are referring to Mo or the Clippers, but I love how they say "potentially could get out of his contract altogether" like there is any chance in hell Mo walks away from 17mil.
• like_that

  

  Love the trade. Now we just need Lebron and Wade to tear their ACLs next season, so the cavs can get another lottery pick.
• BR1986FB

  like_that;689902 wrote:Love the trade. Now we just need Lebron and Wade to tear their VAGINA's next season, so the cavs can get another lottery pick.

  
  Fixed that for you.
• Hb31187

  

  Of all the years to potentially have 2 top 10 picks....this year has to be one of the worst in recent memory lol
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Hb31187;689912 wrote:Of all the years to potentially have 2 top 10 picks....this year has to be one of the worst in recent memory lol

  
  I still think there's some good players coming out, saying its a bad draft I think is being lazy. Just takes the scouting department more effort to find a good player that fits the system.
• Laley23

  

  Fly4Fun;689821 wrote:Who cares if the Clippers really hate the draft? It's not as if they have been good historically at evaluating talent. There is a reason they are one of the worst franchises in professional sports.

  
  3 good drafts in a row though.
• Laley23

  

  Hb31187;689912 wrote:Of all the years to potentially have 2 top 10 picks....this year has to be one of the worst in recent memory lol

  
  Im with you, though when I said it earlier this year about them getting the #1 pick many people disagreed with me.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Love this move.
  
  I wasn't a huge Mo fan but I loved how he snubbed Lebron during that Miami game, so he's all good in my book.
  
  I will officially start rooting for the Clippers to TANK the rest of the season.