Mo Williams was traded from the Cavaliers to the Hawks today, but he won’t be reporting to Atlanta, writes Chris Vivlamore of The Journal Constitution.
The 34-year-old guard is officially retired, but because he has a $2.2MM guaranteed deal, Cleveland kept him on its roster, presumably with the idea of trading his salary if the opportunity arose. He underwent surgery on his left leg in October to remove bone spurs from the joint of the tibia and fibula and hasn’t tried to pursue a comeback.
Vivlamore states that the Hawks haven’t decided whether to try to trade Williams or to open a roster spot by waiving him and paying the balance of his contract.
“All those things we are working through as we speak,” said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer. “No decisions have been made, in any direction, as far as timing on that.”
Williams played 41 games for the Cavaliers last season, averaging 8.2 points and 2.4 assists per night. He appeared in 13 playoff games during Cleveland’s run to the title, but averaged just 5.2 minutes per contest.
I don’t get it. Why would any team want him if he’s retired? Why would the Hawks want to trade him if they don’t need the salary this year anyway? Waiving him seems like the only logical thing to do.
I wonder the same thing. He just seems like a salary filler. A contract u throw in to balance out the money, I guess.
they didn’t want him… they just wanted his salary because it was less than Kyle lover and they can waive it if the book
The business and money of basketball rosters is almost important as the personnel and players on NBA rosters.
They’d throw in a protected second rounder to make it worth it. You’re basically buying a pick.
His contract holds value for a future deal to match contracts if needed. He’s not officially retired. He has not signed the papers so I would imagine if he wanted to stop being a lil cry baby, he could play if the Hawks asked and his knee is healed and he hasn’t gained 30lbs.
Only a 2 mm contract so it doesn’t have much value. Worth up to 3 mm in matching salary. Also, only because he can retire after he’s traded, he might be valuable to a team under with salary level below the “minimum”.