LeBron gets help as Cavs get point guard in three-team trade
Published 5:00 am Thursday, August 14, 2008
MILWAUKEE — The Cleveland Cavaliers are getting some help for LeBron James.
High-scoring Milwaukee point guard Mo Williams is headed to Cleveland to join James as part of a three-team trade that also involves Oklahoma City.
The six-player deal completed Wednesday reshapes the rebuilding Bucks while giving Cleveland an additional scoring threat and sends forward Desmond Mason to Oklahoma, where he’s already a fan favorite.
“Acquiring Mo strengthens our nucleus of players for both the short and long term. He is entering his prime NBA years and will be part of the foundation of our future success,” Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said in a statement. “His ability to push the tempo, get inside the lane, shoot from the perimeter and distribute the ball will be very valuable for us.”
Williams’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, said a scoring-minded point guard will make it easier on James and sharpshooter Daniel Gibson.
“I think there was so much pressure on LeBron to create so much of the offense in Cleveland,” Bartelstein said. “I think somebody like Mo is going to really make the game easier for LeBron and create opportunities for other people.”
In exchange for Williams, who averaged 17.2 points per game last season in the first year of a six-year, $51.5 million contract, the Bucks will receive Damon Jones from Cleveland along with guard Luke Ridnour and forward Adrian Griffin from Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City will get veteran forward Joe Smith from Cleveland and Mason from Milwaukee. Mason played in college at Oklahoma State and spent time with the Hornets franchise in Oklahoma City when it was relocated after Hurricane Katrina.