Report: Jordan McRae, Mo Williams Being Shopped by Cavs

According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Cavaliers are shopping Jordan McRae and Mo Williams to other teams around the league for potential trades.

Windhorst writes:

“The Cleveland Cavaliers are in impasse with guard Mo Williams and it has left them scouring the league for a trade partner so they don’t have to swallow millions, sources told ESPN.com.

Williams is owed $2.2 million for this season and he did not report to training camp. The Cavs, who were caught off guard by the decision, have not had meaningful discussions with Williams on a buyout agreement.

If the Cavs waive Williams now to create a roster spot, Williams would receive his full salary and the Cavs would have to pay the full tax amount. Currently, the Cavs are projected to have a $32 million tax bill.

Needing both a roster spot and a backup point guard, the Cavs are in a squeeze as the regular season opener looms. They are looking to attach guard Jordan McRae to Williams in trades, sources said. The team openly showcased McRae during the preseason.”

This is not a huge surprise, given the report that the Cavs were in talks to acquire a backup point guard, but now it only confirms what was alluded to in that report.

The bottom line is that the Cavs do not want to eat the salary of Williams’ contract, as he will not be on the court again anytime soon and is possibly done playing professional basketball.

McRae is one of the few pieces that the Cavs could afford to part with, who would garner a significant return to bring a legitimate backup point guard to Cleveland.

Windhorst’s report did not mention the Cavs are shopping Iman Shumpert, but he is another name to keep an eye on, as the team scrambles to find Kyrie Irving’s backup.