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Cavs Cavs Archive Mo Doesn't Want to Go, But Who Really Knows?
Written by Sam Amico

Sam Amico

Mo_Williams1AKRON - Mo Williams is begging not to be traded and the Cavaliers might not do it. But it likely won’t be for a lack of trying.

Since the Cavs’ season ended with a loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Williams’ name has been mentioned in trade rumors involving everyone from Portland to Sacramento to Toronto. There will likely be more -- because if there is one thing that’s become as obvious as LeBron James opting out of his contract July 1, it’s that the Cavs are open to trading their point guard. And maybe all others.

Williams is a good guy and an avid Internet user. So he is sensitive to the buzz. In fact, he even responded to it, making an odd but clearly heartfelt plea on his Twitter account.

“Pls don't trade me, I'm not ready to go,” Williams tweeted. “I'm begging. My work ain't done yet. I'm on both knees....pls. I'm serious.”

Ah, yes. Life with the Cavs this summer promises never to be dull.

Unless, of course, you are talking about Thursday’s NBA draft, in which the Cavs don’t have a pick. (Or, for that matter, a coach.) Then again, there have been reports that the Cavs might try to buy their way into the first round, or even trade their way, in an effort to land a young big man. But at this point, it’s who knows, who cares and does anyone know what city LeBron is in?

Anyway, back to Williams. He shouldn’t feel bad, because it seems no one is untouchable this time of year. Every general manager is talking about nearly every player on the roster, as floating names is a big part of the summer game.

But Williams is one of those players who, while not a shoe-in for the All-Star Game, is certainly capable of helping you win. That makes him the perfect basketball commodity. He's not a superstar but he's not bad, and he doesn't come with baggage. Other teams want a guy like that, and the Cavs would be doing a disservice to themselves if they didn't listen.

Problem is, everything the Cavs do becomes over-reported and over-scrutinized because of You Know Who and his impending freedom to choose a new kingdom.

So it's hard to make sense of what is actually fact and what is just being reported by national writers because they think it will result in readers (and they are usually right).

But here is a list of a Cavs-related topics and how much we can truthfully say we know:

* LeBron James: Very little.

* Coaching search: Only slightly more, at best.

* Mo Williams: He doesn’t want to be traded.

* Delonte West: He might get traded.

* Zyrdunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O’Neal: Less than we know about James.

* The draft: As of right now, the Cavs won’t partake. That might change, but in all honesty, why bother? Everyone outside the top two picks is a gigantic question mark.

* Dan Gilbert: He is doing everything he can not to let LeBron’s free agency stand in the way of improving the team, and that is definitely admirable. But the only thing the organization has done so far is lose people (Mike Brown, Danny Ferry and assistant coach Mike Malone), not add them.

Last year at this time, the Cavs traded for O’Neal and talked about him possibly being the missing piece to a championship. An air of excitement surrounded the team.

But today, the Cavs are just trying to survive, to do something, anything to take a positive step forward in an already trying off-season.

So poor Mo Williams shouldn’t take it personally. For the time being, it’s just the way things have to be.

Sam Amico has covered the NBA for numerous publications for more than a decade is regular contributor to SportsTime Ohio and The Cleveland Fan. He can be reached at amico@probasketballnews.com.

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