NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Reasons How Mo Williams Makes the Blazers Better

Rumors are swirling around Mo Williams and one of them puts the 6-1 guard as a member of the Portland Trailblazers next season.

How could this possible move improve the Blazers chances of making the playoffs again in a tough and deep Western Conference?

Let's run down the top ten reasons Mo Williams will put the Blazers back in the playoffs if he is in fact traded.

Playoff Experience

Although the Cavs have been criticized for not succeeding in the playoffs, Mo Williams has still gained some valuable experience in three different playoff appearances, including one in the NBA Finals.

If he heads to Portland, he would bring that playoff experience to a relatively young team. He knows how to lead a playoff team at the point guard position so he would be a valuable add for the Blazers.

Ability to Take Over Game

While most point guards are just distributors, Mo Williams has the ability to go on scoring runs by getting to the basket and using his good scoring touch to put pressure on opposing defenses.

Throughout last season, Williams averaged around 16 points per game, but had games where he scored 35, 28, 28, 27 and 27 points. All the while, sharing the ball with LeBron, the NBA's ultimate scorer.

Wherever he ends up, Williams should be able to help that offense immensely.

Second Option to Roy

Just like he was in Cleveland, Williams could be a quality second option to an already dominant presence in Brandon Roy.

Roy averaged 21.5 points per game last season, and that was without a good second scoring option. Andre Miller scored around 16 points per game last year, but he also shot a questionable 40 percent from the field while Williams shot near 45 percent.

Williams can only better his scoring after having to share his offense with LeBron last year, so you would probably see a boost in his scoring if he went to the Blazers.

Help Andre Miller

Andre Miller signed a three-year deal with the Blazers last year, but he could benefit from having some help at point guard, as he played 35 minutes per game last year.

Perhaps the Blazers would consider a two point guard lineup at some points during the game with these two. No matter what, Williams would at the least help out depth at point guard.

Every Contending Team Needs a Solid PG

This is not a slight to Andre Miller, but Mo Williams would definitely represent a upgrade at the point guard position. Miller has been the point guard of some fairly good teams, but Williams helped the Cavs get the best record in the NBA last season.

Even though he hasn't had playoff success yet (no championships), Mo Williams is ready to take the next step and is entering his prime, so he would be a great candidate for a breakout next season and he could be ready to take the next step in the playoffs as well.

Scoring Ability

As stated earlier, Williams is not just a distributor at the point guard position. When needed, he can score with the best point guards in the NBA.

If the Blazers ever had an injury situation, like they had last season, Williams would be able to be a No. 2 or maybe even a No. 1 scoring option, something the team had trouble with when Brandon Roy went down late in the year.

Williams is a career 45 percent shooter overall and a career 40 percent shooter from three point land.

Winning Attitude

Mo Williams learned how to win as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, even if it was just for the regular season.

Williams was a part of a team that won 127 games over the past two regular seasons, compared to the Blazers 104 wins over that time.

With a good amount of talent already in Portland, Williams could be the final piece that makes this team a legitimate threat to come out of the Western Conference in 2011. Heck, maybe they would even be a threat to win it all!

Youth Movement

The Blazers have been getting younger with each passing year and this would help that cause even more. Andre Miller is 33 years old while Mo Williams is in the prime of his career at age 27.

Decreasing the average age, especially at that position, could be the final move that pushes Portland over the top.

Can you imagine a starting five of Mo Williams, Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden? Not too shabby.

Passing Ability

I've already made a lot about Williams' ability to score, but he is also a great distributor also.

He perfected this skill playing with LeBron James and he could be one of the best passers in the NBA if he got on a team with as many weapons as the Blazers.

Williams only averaged 5.3 assists per game last year, but when you watch him play you can tell he knows what he is doing with the basketball.

Blazers Need Some Change

While it isn't always smart to make a move just to make one, the Blazers probably are in that position right now.

Even without the injuries last season, the Blazers probably wouldn't have been a serious challenger to the Los Angeles Lakers in the West, so it would be wise of them to do all they could to improve their team.

Adding Mo Williams would be a good first step in trying to catch the Lakers in the Western Conference.