Cavaliers Point Guard Mo Williams Retiring

Mo Williams will no longer play with the Cleveland Cavaliers this season.

Cavaliers Point Guard Mo Williams Retiring

Cavs GM David Griffin told reporters on Monday that the 33-year-old point guard’s agent called and told them that Williams is retiring.

Before returning to Cleveland, Williams spent three seasons with the Cavaliers from 2008-2011, during which he averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 33.6 minutes and was named a 2009 NBA All-Star.

Williams, signed a two-year deal for $4.3 million last season and replaced Kyrie Irving while he worked to return from a season-ending injury. Dealing with knee issues himself, Williams only managed to play 41 regular-season games, averaging 8.2 points.

In June, he helped the Cavs win the first league championship in one of the four major professional sports to Cleveland since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964.

In his professional career, Williams has also played with Utah, Milwaukee, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland, Minnesota and Charlotte.

The Cavaliers have reportedly been in contact with free agents Norris Cole, Mario Chalmers, and Kirk Hinrich this summer, eyeing them as possible replacements for Williams. At this point, however, the team is in no rush to sign any of them, preferring to allow 5-foot-9, 21-year-old rookie Kay Felder to practice more in training camp, and see if head coach Tyronn Lue can work his rotation properly without them.

For example, besides Felder, LeBron James can (and often does) run the offense. The Cavs are currently way over the $94 million salary cap, and thus cannot offer any free agent anything beyond a veteran’s minimum to come to Cleveland.

Cole, 27, a Cleveland State alum, is averaging 7.1 points and 2.8 assists per game in five seasons. He played the last 1 ½ years with the New Orleans Pelicans, and in 45 games last season averaged a career-high 10.6 ppg. His last game was March 7.

Chalmers, 30, averaged a career-high 10.3 ppg last season. He was cleared to resume playing basketball in August. He is also James’ former teammate with the Heat, and suffered a torn Achilles in March while playing for the Memhis Grizzlies. Chalmers was released following the injury.

The 35-year-old Hinrich’s numbers have declined over the past few seasons. He was traded from the Bulls last season (where he played 11 of his 13 seasons), and played sparingly. Hinrich is averaging 10.9 ppg for his career and is a 37.5 percent shooter from 3-point range, but has averaged less than 6 ppg in each of his last two seasons.

Williams is still owed $2.2 million this season. The Cavs began training camp Monday without starting shooting guard J.R. Smith, who is not yet under contract, and with new additions Chris “Bird Man” Andersen (38) and Mike Dunleavy (36).

Before Williams’ departure, Cleveland had the oldest roster in the NBA with an average age per player of nearly 31.

BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 15: Mo Williams #52 of the Cleveland Cavaliers carries the ball against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at TD Garden on December 15, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Article by Pablo Mena