Cleveland Cavaliers trade rumors 2016: Mo Williams to leave as playing time dwindles?

Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison

Another Cleveland Cavaliers player might bail out before the trade deadline strikes and this time, it is veteran point guard Mo Williams, who has recently been spending more time on the bench than on the court. 

Williams is in his second stint with Cleveland and him re-signing with the team last July seemed necessary, since during that time, star point guard Kyrie Irving was recovering from a fractured knee cap suffered in last season's Finals. 

The veteran was again reunited with franchise superstar LeBron James and had a good start in his return to the Cavs. 

Unfortunately, Williams dealt with a number of issues (personal matter, torn ligament in right thumb, etc.) back in December and along with this, Irving also returned from injury. 

Because of all these circumstances, the 33-year-old player was pushed further in the Cavaliers' depth chart at the point guard position and in their past three games has not seen action. 

Williams' current situation might be reason enough for him to want out of Cleveland, SB Nation's Fear the Sword suggested in its report. 

But the report added that Irving's return is not the main reason why Williams turned in to a benchwarmer; the major factor is the decline in his performance since December. 

Yes, Williams is valuable to the Cavaliers since he is an assurance policy if Irving gets injured again, but Matthew Dellavedova is present. 

Dellavedova did a heck of a job in the rest of the Finals series last season when Irving went down with an injury. 

SB Nation's Fear the Sword listed a number of roster moves the Cavaliers can accomplish if Williams really wants to leave. 

Since Williams is no longer the big time player he was before, the Cavs can trade him for a future second-round pick or international draft right then look for another playmaker with the trade exception, the report suggested. 

Another choice is to search the Developmental League (D-League) for a point guard and sign him to a 10-day contract. 

Regardless, Williams is still with the Cavaliers as the trade deadline approaches and as long as there is time, the former All-Star can prove himself to the franchise if he aims to stay.