National Basketball Association roundup
Feb 25 (The Sports Xchange) - Deron Williams cleared waivers on Saturday and will sign a contract and join the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
Williams, who was waived Thursday by the Dallas Mavericks, is the backup point guard the Cavs have coveted.
The three-time All-Star will back up Kyrie Irving and provide veteran leadership and poise off the Cavs bench. Williams, 32, had considered joining Utah, where he still has a home, but on Saturday confirmed to a league source that he would join the defending champions.
There were no takers on the waiver wire for Williams and what's left of his $9 million contract, though it is believed Williams' powerful agent, Jeff Schwartz, warned interested parties not to claim his client, who wanted to join Cleveland.
- - - Magic Johnson's purge of the Los Angeles Lakers' roster continued Saturday. Johnson and the Lakers are exploring a buyout for 12-year veteran Jose Calderon, according to an ESPN report. ESPN's Marc Stein tweeted that the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will be suitors of Calderon should the Spanish guard be bought out. Calderon, 35, has played in only 24 games this season and is averaging 3.3 points and 2.1 assists, both career lows.
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Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James missed Saturday night's home game against the Chicago Bulls due to an illness.
James missed the morning shootaround and was ruled out about 90 minutes prior to tipoff.
This is the fourth game James has missed this season and the Cavaliers lost the previous three. Richard Jefferson started in his place.
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Forward Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors will miss Saturday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets at Oracle Arena in Oakland because of a left-hand contusion, the team announced.
Durant landed awkwardly on his hand early in Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers and went to the locker room for an examination, but he later returned to the game.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers recalled guard Kay Felder from the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League on Saturday.
In 36 games with the Cavs, Felder is averaging 4.1 points and 1.3 assists in 9.6 minutes per contest. (Editing by Andrew Both)
