Cleveland Cavaliers sign F Derrick Williams for rest of the season

March 5 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers signed forward Derrick Williams to a contract for the remainder of the season, the team announced Saturday.

Williams, 25, played out the last of consecutive 10-day contracts. He signed a $268,000 deal before Saturday night's game at the Miami Heat, who waived him in early February.

The 6-foot-8, 245-pound Williams has appeared in nine games with the Cavs this season, averaging 10.3 points on .561 shooting from the field and 3.1 rebounds in 24.2 minutes per contest.

The three-time All-Star originally signed with the Cavs on Feb. 9, the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts. Before joining Cleveland, he played in 25 games (11 starts) with the Heat and averaged 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes.

"I kind of put myself in that position (of having to earn a contract)," Williams said Friday night after scoring nine points as the Cavs beat the Hawks 135-130.

"I put myself into a 10-day contract to really prove myself to the guys on this team. So far it's been great, been playing well. I've never been in that position since I've been in the NBA. I really wanted to really start over."

Playing in his sixth NBA season, Williams has appeared in 410 games (112 starts) with Minnesota, Sacramento, New York, Miami and Cleveland and holds career averages of 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 21.1 minutes.

Williams was drafted out of Arizona as the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Timberwolves.