On Wednesday, Mo Williams agreed to a two-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers worth approximately $5.6 and has a player option for the second season. Williams chose the Blazers over such contenders as the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Memphis Grizzlies. He apparently decided to sign with Portland because they offered more money than the other teams in the chase were willing, or able in some cases, to spend.
Williams is a ten-year NBA veteran and was one of the best remaining free agents still available on the market. He spent last season with the Utah Jazz, where he averaged 12.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game in 46 games, all of which he started. He has also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks throughout his career.
With the addition of Williams, the Blazers will have a loaded back court this season including Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, C.J. McCollum, Earl Watson, Allen Crabbe, Will Barton, and Terrell Harris, although he is likely to be let go to make room for Williams on the roster. The Grizzlies will now have to begin considering other options as they search for a player capable of spacing the floor.
The Grizzlies were already interested in potentially signing Beno Udrih even before Williams chose to go to Portland, so don't be surprised if talks between the two sides intensify in coming days. Other options the Grizzlies could potentially explore include Delonte West, Antawn Jamison, Richard Hamilton, Al Harrington, Tracy McGrady, DeShawn Stevenson, and Stephen Jackson. While West and Jamison have previously been linked to Memphis, the others are just options I feel would be worth taking a long look at.
Richard Hamilton scored 16.2 points per 36 minutes and shot 43% percent in limited action last season with the Chicago Bulls. Al Harrington has dropped 20 pounds and is looking to join a contender, and he also would almost definitely provide a boast in scoring off the Grizzlies bench. Tracy McGrady signed with the San Antonio Spurs for the playoffs this past season and showed he still has something left in the tank as a bench contributor. Stevenson and Jackson are both veterans who can score and are accustomed to playing off the bench for large portions of their careers.
Almost all of the players I just listed could be signed for, or at least close to, the veteran's minimum. Most of them would also likely agree to a one-year deal, meaning the Grizzlies wouldn't have to commit any long-term money and also wouldn't lose much if the signing didn't work out for some reason for the team. Either way, the Grizzlies will likely still try to add at least one more player between now and the start of training camp despite missing out on Williams and don't be surprised if it's one of the names mentioned above.
