Los Angeles Clippers Do Not Need to Trade Mo Williams

Ever since the Los Angeles Clippers signed Chauncey Billups and then traded for Chris Paul in mid-December, point guard Mo Williams has been said to be the “odd man out” in LA’s backcourt rotation.

Some people have suggested that the team might be better off trading Williams away to try to improve depth in the frontcourt.

To that I say: Be careful what you wish for.

Williams may end up being a lot more useful this season than you may think.

Sure, the former All-Star is now coming off the bench—something he is certainly not accustomed to—but Williams will get his minutes on the court.

He’s backing up 35-year-old Billups, who just a week into the season has already missed two games because of a strained groin. Every team goes through injury problems at some point in the season and I’m sure Vinny Del Negro sleeps better at night knowing he’s got Williams to step right in for a hurt (or ineffective) Billups.

There’s a lot to like about Williams. He can score (between 14.0 and 17.8 PPG for the last five years), he can handle the ball, he can play solid defense and he’s got some playoff experience.

Del Negro showed us last year that he likes to have three guards on the floor at the same time for long spurts, and even though it’s a small sample size, Williams has averaged 29 minutes per game through four contests so far in 2011.

My message to Clippers fans and executives: Don't be in such a rush to get rid of Mo Williams. You'll learn to appreciate him sooner rather than later.