Williams a guiding light for the Cavaliers

Could it be merely coincidence that the Cavaliers are winning with James playing his best ball and Williams on the roster? Probably not. Guess who now sits next to James on the Cleveland charter and teaches the finer points of NBA team defense? Williams. Guess who goes over tape with James and shares veteran pointers with the superstar rookie? Williams.

"I always wanted to retire as a Celtic," said the 31-year-old Williams, who becomes a free agent at the end of this season. "I wouldn't even have had to win a championship to make it complete. But you can't get everything you want. I've got to move on with the plan, whether I like it or not.

"It's a little bit different [with Cleveland] because I'm the oldest on the team. That's new. But I'm more important on this team than I would be with the Celtics. So, I like that challenge even more. They want a leadership role for me. I'm known as a defensive player and they want that to rub off on the rest of their players."

As the dust continues to settle from the deal that sent Williams, Tony Battie, and Kedrick Brown to Cleveland a week ago today, Williams has started carving out a role for himself as mentor to James. By placing his energy into building a relationship with James, Williams has been able to take a positive out of the controversial, awkwardly-timed trade.

"I was shocked," said Williams. "But for some strange reason, I felt as though he was trying to move me. I don't think [executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge] really had me in his plans for the future since the beginning of the year. I always knew it could potentially happen. It was just unfortunate that it happened at the time that it did. I never thought it would happen after we won five games in a row, when the team finally seemed like it was understanding the concepts and jelling. It seemed like we were going to make a run at the Atlantic [Division title] because it was so up and down. We were about to go on a nice little run.

"But with the situation at the small forward spot and what I heard, I just really felt I wasn't part of their plans for the future. I was really just giving my all for the coaches and my teammates. That's it. The only thing that really bothered me most was the timing and the situation with my son [whose mother was murdered during the offseason]. It was more off the court than on the court. I just wanted to be there with my son for Christmas.

"The organization made a move when they thought they had to make a move. If I could control the situation, then I would be hot. But I can't control it. I think it was a great trade for Cleveland. But I still think the other team [the Celtics] could have done something. But I don't know the outcome because it didn't happen. I don't have no hard feelings. I've just got to move on to the situation that I have."

Williams has started to move on, but he also has brought some of the Celtics' ways to Cleveland. Along with Battie, Williams is trying to teach the Cavaliers some of Boston's defensive principles, hoping to foster greater cooperation and accountability with a more team-oriented approach.

But while Williams looks to create a better team atmosphere, his most important pupil is James. So far, Williams has been particularly impressed with the rookie's maturity and passing. Williams hopes to help give James as solid a foundation as possible for the rest of what promises to be a long career.

"We sit next to each other on the plane and talk," said Williams. "I show him little things as far as defensive concepts because everything else he has already. He has his eyebrows up and his ears open to everything I have to say.

"He has a great tempo for his age. Normally, these guys in that situation rush a lot and try to force a lot of things. This guy has the patience of a six- or seven-year veteran. He's one of those rare talents. He puts the ball on the money every time with the pass. He knows how to push the offense, how to get everyone involved. And that's very important."