The Cleveland Cavaliers are getting some help for LeBron James.
High-scoring Milwaukee point guard Mo Williams is headed to Cleveland to join James as part of a three-team trade involving Milwaukee and Oklahoma City.
Agents for Williams and Desmond Mason said Wednesday a six-player deal is being finalized that reshapes the rebuilding Bucks while giving Cleveland an additional scoring threat and sends Mason to Oklahoma, where he?s already a fan favorite.
The trade was previously reported by ESPN.com and media outlets in all three markets.
A Bucks spokesman said nothing is official until the league approves the trade. Approval was expected later Wednesday.
Williams? agent, Mark Bartelstein, said a scoring-minded point guard will make it easier on James and sharpshooter Daniel Gibson.
?I think there was so much pressure on LeBron to create so much of the offense in Cleveland,? Bartelstein said. ?I think somebody like Mo is going to really make the game easier for LeBron and create opportunities for other people.?
In exchange for Williams, who averaged 17.2 points per game last season in the first year of a six-year, $51.5 million contract, the Bucks will receive Damon Jones from Cleveland along with guard Luke Ridnour and forward Adrian Griffin from Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City will get veteran forward Joe Smith from Cleveland and Mason from Milwaukee. Mason played in college at Oklahoma State and spent time with the Hornets franchise in Oklahoma City when it was relocated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
?We?re excited,? Mason?s agent, Roger Montgomery said. ?He?s been to Oklahoma City, he?s familiar with the people there, he?s familiar with the Ford Center, he?s played there, the fans loved him when he was there. His nickname is the Cowboy. It?s really apropos to come back.?
Ridnour, who averaged 6.4 points and four assists last season as the backup to Earl Watson in Seattle, had faced decreased playing time in Oklahoma City after the franchise drafted point guard Russell Westbrook with the fourth pick.
Griffin averaged 1.9 points in minimal playing time after coming over from Chicago in a midseason trade.
For the Bucks, it?s the next step in an offseason facelift by new general manager John Hammond. Milwaukee fired coach Larry Krystkowiak after going 26-56 last season and replaced him with Scott Skiles.
The Bucks then sent Yi Jianlian to New Jersey in exchange for forward Richard Jefferson and added forward Joe Alexander with the eighth pick in the draft.
Milwaukee also signed guard Tyronn Lue and forward Malik Allen in an effort to bolster what has been one of the league?s worst defenses.
High-scoring Milwaukee point guard Mo Williams is headed to Cleveland to join James as part of a three-team trade involving Milwaukee and Oklahoma City.
Agents for Williams and Desmond Mason said Wednesday a six-player deal is being finalized that reshapes the rebuilding Bucks while giving Cleveland an additional scoring threat and sends Mason to Oklahoma, where he?s already a fan favorite.
The trade was previously reported by ESPN.com and media outlets in all three markets.
A Bucks spokesman said nothing is official until the league approves the trade. Approval was expected later Wednesday.
Williams? agent, Mark Bartelstein, said a scoring-minded point guard will make it easier on James and sharpshooter Daniel Gibson.
?I think there was so much pressure on LeBron to create so much of the offense in Cleveland,? Bartelstein said. ?I think somebody like Mo is going to really make the game easier for LeBron and create opportunities for other people.?
In exchange for Williams, who averaged 17.2 points per game last season in the first year of a six-year, $51.5 million contract, the Bucks will receive Damon Jones from Cleveland along with guard Luke Ridnour and forward Adrian Griffin from Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City will get veteran forward Joe Smith from Cleveland and Mason from Milwaukee. Mason played in college at Oklahoma State and spent time with the Hornets franchise in Oklahoma City when it was relocated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
?We?re excited,? Mason?s agent, Roger Montgomery said. ?He?s been to Oklahoma City, he?s familiar with the people there, he?s familiar with the Ford Center, he?s played there, the fans loved him when he was there. His nickname is the Cowboy. It?s really apropos to come back.?
Ridnour, who averaged 6.4 points and four assists last season as the backup to Earl Watson in Seattle, had faced decreased playing time in Oklahoma City after the franchise drafted point guard Russell Westbrook with the fourth pick.
Griffin averaged 1.9 points in minimal playing time after coming over from Chicago in a midseason trade.
For the Bucks, it?s the next step in an offseason facelift by new general manager John Hammond. Milwaukee fired coach Larry Krystkowiak after going 26-56 last season and replaced him with Scott Skiles.
The Bucks then sent Yi Jianlian to New Jersey in exchange for forward Richard Jefferson and added forward Joe Alexander with the eighth pick in the draft.
Milwaukee also signed guard Tyronn Lue and forward Malik Allen in an effort to bolster what has been one of the league?s worst defenses.
