Report: Mo Williams arrived late to Saturday’s game, barely joined teammates in cheering

Mo Williams thrived as the Cavaliers’ starting point guard until Kyrie Irving got healthy.

But Williams has struggled since Irving’s return, shooting 33% overall and 20% on 3-pointers and even receiving a DNP-CD.

Still, the Cavaliers have won three straight, including a 104-79 win over the Magic on Saturday.

David McMenamin of ESPN:

if there was anything to be concerned about with Saturday’s outing, it was seeing Mo Williams report to the locker room just 63 minutes before tipoff and then being late to join his teammates, if he joined them at all, as they got up off the bench and onto their feet to cheer several plays as Cleveland built its big lead.

Williams played eight minutes in that game, all in garbage time.

He’s a veteran, and he certainly knew he’d lose his starting job once Irving got healthy. But I’m not sure Williams expected such a small role.

Matthew Dellavedova has played well at point guard, and J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert occupy significant minutes on the wing. Richard Jefferson and and Jared Cunningham are also in the mix. Williams has to earn his minutes.

His scoring ability offers a change of pace form Dellavedova, and I still think there’s a place for Williams in the rotation – if he accepts it.

More than anything, the Cavaliers need to be clicking during the playoffs. They won’t topple the Warriors playing less than their best (as LeBron James seems to know).

Cleveland can’t have a backup disrupting chemistry. I suspect Williams will come around, but if not, I wouldn’t rule out the Cavs trading him. They just don’t have much margin for error when the goal is so high and Golden State (and San Antonio) is so good.