NBA Rumors: Cavs Smart to Continue Working on Trade for Marvin Williams

The Cleveland Cavaliers are quickly closing in on their win total from a year ago.

Last year's No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving isn't LeBron James, but he's making a hell of a difference to this ball club.

No. 4 pick Tristan Thompson is also starting to come along. If he keeps developing, he may actually be a heck of a player in this league.

However, the Cavs are far from done with their transformation in these LeBron-less years and they know it. That is why their rumored interest in Atlanta's Marvin Williams makes so much sense.

Bob Finnan of the News Herald writes:

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Rumors say the Cavs continue to have an open dialogue with the Atlanta Hawks concerning small forward Marvin Williams. That rumor won't go away. One media report said forward Josh Smith's name has been added to those discussions. Some have suggested sending Jamison and Sessions to the Hawks for Williams and Smith. The Cavs would probably do that.

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The Hawks would love to get another point guard to back up Jeff Teague. They'd also love to move on from Williams. The former second overall pick has underwhelmed for much of his NBA career and the time for a new face may have finally arrived. It would also be a big help to them financially, just as dealing Smith would be

Cleveland would be taking on some salary, but they'd instantly get some much needed talent.

Williams is only 25 years old and can still be developed. He'd at least bring some athleticism to a Cavs lineup that has featured Omri Casspi and an aging Antawn Jamison for too many games now.

Adding Smith would be one heck of a boost. The seven-year veteran has stopped taking completely ill-advised shots and continues to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. He's averaging career highs in points and rebounds per game.

A deal sending Williams to the Cavs makes too much sense. If Smith is thrown in, it would completely put it over the top.

The way Irving has taken to NBA life gives Cavs fans a reason to expect big things sooner rather than later. By landing Marvin Williams, and possibly Josh Smith, they'd quickly be a formidable squad again.