Cavaliers Release Former Blazers G Elliot Williams

The Cleveland Cavaliers announced Friday the release of former Portland Trail Blazers guard Elliot Williams as part of their training camp cut-down to the 15-man roster limit.

From their press release...

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived center DeSagana Diop, forward Kenny Kadji, guard Jermaine Taylor and guard Elliot Williams, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. The Cavs roster now stands at 15.

Williams played in six Cavs preseason contests, averaging 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game.

Back in September, Williams signed a training camp deal with Cleveland. Back in July, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reported that Williams wasn't expected to re-sign with the Blazers. Williams also did not play on the Blazers' 2013 Las Vegas Summer League team.

During his exit interview in April, Williams had said that he hoped to play with the Blazers in Las Vegas.

Exit interview: "I was telling them that I love Portland, I want to be here. I've got to talk to my agent and we'll see what happens.

Did they say they want you back? "Yeah. They said they did. We'll see what happens. ... It's a lot to go into. My agent is coming in tomorrow and talk to them. I don't know the details, I'll know later."

Summer League: "I don't know yet but I want to play here. I'm pretty comfortable with the team, I know a lot of the young guys, it would be a good chance for me to get back going."

Here was Blazers GM Neil Olshey's response.

With Elliot, nobody knows what we have with Elliot Williams. He's a guy I scouted back in college. I saw for five minutes here for offseason workouts and didn't get [more of] an opportunity. Clearly he's got talent. There's three years invested in trying to get him healthy and get him right and if there's an opportunity to bring him back that's something we'll look at.

Williams has played just 24 total games since being a 2010 first-round pick. In addition to a season-ending Achilles injury suffered last fall, Williams has also missed time due to multiple knee surgeries and a shoulder injury. He became an unrestricted free agent this summer after the Blazers decided not to pick up his rookie option in the fall.

Williams, 24, holds career averages of 3.7 points and 0.8 rebounds in 24 career appearances (all during the 2011-12 season).

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter