This years NBA trade deadline may have passed, but the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers have made yet another move.
Thursday, just after 5:00 p.m. EST, Marc Spears of ESPN and The Undefeated reported that the Dallas Mavericks waived veteran point guard Deron Williams, a player who the Cavs have been interested in for some time now.
Most expected Williams to sign with the defending NBA champions after clearing his waivers — a formality he completed on Saturday afternoon. Shortly before gametime today, the Cavs officially agreed to a deal to bring the crafty ball-handler to the Lake Erie shoreline.
OFFICIAL: welcome to #TheLand, @DeronWilliams!
Read about our newest Cavalier here: https://t.co/wJAtH4MUUs pic.twitter.com/409iM2DNYE
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 28, 2017
Williams, 32, has averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 34.8 minutes per game over the course of his career. This season, Williams has averaged 13.1 points and 6.9 assists in 40 games for the Mavericks.
The former University of Illinois stand-out will be a fine addition to the Cavaliers’ back-court rotation. Most of the time, Williams will serve as a backup, but he could also be utilized alongside Kyrie Irving in certain scenarios. Either way, Williams is a great fit for the Cavs.
