Ex-Buck says he’s OK with old team

Cavs guard Mo Williams said he left Milwaukee on good terms.

The Plain Dealer

Mo Williams outlasted every other Cavalier at practice on Monday — and it wasn’t even close. For more than 30 minutes after his teammates departed, Williams continued to shoot from multiple spots on the floor — and the free-throw line.

“Sorry,” he said, approaching waiting reporters. “I’ve got to get ready for tomorrow.”

By tomorrow, he means tonight’s game against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, the team that traded him to the Cavaliers on Aug. 13. It’s the first time he’ll face his former teammates.

Of course, he tried to downplay the reunion.

“Just another day,” he said with a smile. “A beautiful day.”

So there’s no special significance facing the Bucks?

“It’s just another game for us,” he said. “We take it one game at a time. I don’t have any bitter feelings against Milwaukee. All my memories there are great. The organization has been nothing but great to me. I have a lot of friends still there. I have a lot of respect for the organization. They gave me my contract. Never bite the hand that feeds you.”

Asked why he thought the Bucks signed him to a six-year, $51 million deal before last season and then traded him last summer, Williams cracked up reporters by saying, “I think I’m good.”

It was clearly a business decision, although most observers think the Cavs got a steal by sending guard Damon Jones and forward Joe Smith to Milwaukee. To complete the deal, the Bucks sent Smith and forward Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City, which sent point guard Luke Ridnour and swingman Adrian Griffin to the Bucks.

That was part of an overhaul of the Bucks roster by new GM John Hammond. The Bucks also have a new coach in Scott Skiles and some new players, including Richard Jefferson. But Williams says the core of the team is the same, and he’s still in touch with a few guys, including Ramon Sessions, who lives in Williams’ condo in Milwaukee.

“A lot of players get traded and they’re bitter with the team because they go to situations where it’s not so good or they didn’t want to go,” Williams said. “But I’m in a great situation, having the best time of my life. Playing the game — every night I’m having fun, in practice I’m having fun, in the games I’m having fun, and off the court. Everything is great for me right now. I know that’s because they pulled the trigger and made the trade. It was sad to go, but at the same time, I’m happy where I’m at.

“There’s no rivalry between myself and Milwaukee. We’ve got a bigger goal. Our rivalry is against every team in the league — especially the contenders. So they’re just another team. We want to win at home and beat the teams that we’re supposed to beat. Milwaukee happens to be one of them.”

James honored

As expected, Cavs star LeBron James was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 3-9.

In four games, James averaged an NBA-high 34.5 points on 46.9 percent shooting, and 9.8 rebounds in 37.1 minutes per game. James has won the award 14 times in his career — once this season, three times during 2007-08, twice in 2006-07, five times in 2005-06 and three times in 2004-05.

“Just being myself,” James said with a grin.

Taking a stand: It’s still early, but the Cavs are trying to establish control at home, where they’re 3-0, and in the Central Division, where they’re also 3-0 heading into tonight’s divisional matchup.

“The division is really key,” James said.

“You always want to make a stand in the division, no matter who you go against. We’re glad we’re 3-0 right now and we’ve got to continue that.”