Report: Cavs looking to trade Williams to avoid paying him

Veteran point guard Mo Williams has declared his intention to retire from the NBA, but he doesn't appear eager to help the Cleveland Cavaliers on his way out.

The franchise is looking for a trade partner to rid themselves of the 33-year-old in order to avoid paying him what's left on his contract, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

While Williams' original intention was to play out the final year of his contract to be Kyrie Irving's backup, the 13-year pro eventually backtracked when his agent informed general manager David Griffin that his client was in fact going to retire.

Should Cleveland waive Williams to open up a roster spot, they would be required to pay the $2.2 million he's owed in full, which they'd like to avoid doing considering how deep they already are into the luxury tax (approximately $32 million).

Management has been unable to have any meaningful conversations with Williams as it pertains to a buyout, reports Windhorst.

Williams has also yet to file paperwork with the league for his retirement.

Cleveland is reportedly looking to package guard Jordan McRae with Williams in potential deals, which could explain why he was so heavily featured in the team's offense during the preseason. McCrae led the Cavaliers in scoring over six games with 14 points on 38.4 percent shooting.

The option of suspending Williams is still on the table, with his first check not due until Nov. 15. That may not be feasible, though, as the team would still be taxed on his salary, and he'd still be taking up a roster spot.

Williams went under the knife earlier in the month to fix his ailing left knee, and took a presumed shot at the organization on Instagram by implying they didn't care about his health.

He averaged 13.2 points and 4.9 assists in 41 appearances last season.