15 worst free agent signings in Cavaliers history

Worst Cavaliers free agent signings No. 5: Mo Williams, 2016

Mo Williams spent two different stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The first saw him arrive by trade in 2008, and while he was largely overrated playing next to LeBron James (he was not a deserving All-Star at any point in his career, but made it in 2009) he was an above-average starter for the Cavs during those final few years of LeBron James’ time in Cleveland (part one).

Williams was routed to the LA Clippers after James left in the deal that landed Cleveland the Kyrie Irving draft pick, and he played in Utah, Portland, Minnesota and Charlotte over the next three seasons. Then, in the summer of 2015, he rejoined the Cavaliers in free agency by signing a two-year, $4.29 million deal to back up Irving.

Narratively the signing worked out; the Cavaliers won the NBA Championship that season, coming back to beat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, and Williams won the first championship of his career in the wine and gold.

As a value proposition, however, it was a fairly big mistake. Williams did not have much left in the tank at that point in his career, averaging 8.2 points per game in just 41 contests during the regular season. Come the playoffs Williams was borderline unplayable, shooting just 28.6 percent from the field and averaging just 1.5 points per game in 13 brief appearances.