Mavericks Waive Deron Williams - Signs With Cavaliers

[key2win]

Dallas Mavericks waive Deron Williams; Cleveland Cavaliers in play

DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks have waived Deron Williams, and sources told ESPN that even though multiple teams are interested in his services, he has set his sights on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Williams has made it known he intends to sign with Cleveland once he clears waivers, league sources told ESPN.

The Mavericks will pay Williams the roughly $2.5 million left on his contract, sources told ESPN. Besides the Cavaliers, the Utah Jazz, among other teams, are expected to express interest. It's expected that it will take Williams around 48 hours to clear waivers.

Dallas is preparing for rookie Yogi Ferrell to take the reins as the starting point guard, according to sources.

The Mavs held Williams out of practice the past two days while attempting to trade him. He spent the past season and a half with Dallas, his hometown team, after the Brooklyn Nets bought out the final two seasons of his maximum contract for $27 million.

"It was great having Deron and his family back home in Dallas for the better part of 2 seasons," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said in a text message to reporters who cover the team. "At this time the decision has been made to focus on playing our young guys, and the organization felt that giving Deron the freedom to choose his next team was the right thing to do. Deron still plays at a high level and I believe he will be a difference-maker for a contending team down the stretch of this season. We wish him and his family the very best."

Williams, 32, averaged 13.1 points and 6.9 assists this season but has been limited to 40 games because of injuries.

[key2win]

Deron Williams clears waivers, tells Cleveland Cavaliers that he'll sign with them

Point guard Deron Williams has cleared waivers and has informed the Cleveland Cavaliers that he will sign with them, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

Williams negotiated his release from the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday after he wasn't dealt at this week's trade deadline. Williams, who cannot sign with the Cavs until Monday, will sign for the rest of the season for the veterans minimum, sources told ESPN, which will cost the Cavaliers $900,000 in salary and luxury tax.

The Cavaliers have an open roster spot and have been looking to acquire a backup point guard since September, when Mo Williams announced to the team he would not be reporting for training camp.

Guard Kyle Korver, who played with Deron Williams when they were both on the Jazz, led the Cavs' recruitment of Williams, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin. The team attempted to sign Williams as a free agent in 2015.

Asked how he sold Williams on going to Cleveland, Korver said it "didn't have to be much of a sales pitch."

"He wants to be a part of an opportunity to win a championship," Korver said before the Cavs' 117-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. "And just being here the whole time I've been here, and just seeing where there are some of the holes -- or not holes, but where we can be better -- and knowing who he is and his skill set, I think it's an incredible fit. He's a guy that can play with the ball, he can play off the ball. He's a good shooter, he's a smart player. He can switch on defense, he's a bigger body. I just think he's a really good fit all around."

Korver, who has been with the Cavs only about six weeks since arriving in a trade from Atlanta, was able to share how quickly he became a part of the Cavs' culture.

"I told him this is a great team to be on," Korver said. "The locker room is amazing. Because I think you're always wondering about that in the back of your mind. Just tried to tell him that these guys are great, and they're welcoming. You're going to have no problem fitting in. There's a real need for you, I think. When you have a team that's this good and has won a championship, where do you really have a hole, where do you really have a need? There's a real need for someone like him. So I said, 'You're going to come in, and you gotta learn a little bit, but you're going to transition easily, and there's a need for you, and you're going to play, and it's going to be fun.'"

Williams, who played on Team USA with LeBron James and Kevin Love, averaged 13.1 points and 6.9 assists in 40 games for Dallas this season.