The Cavaliers released the rookie forward Wednesday, but there's a chance it may not be permanent. The Cleveland native and former St. Edward star made the team after a good training-camp performance. This Friday, however, his contract would have become guaranteed for the rest of the reason and would have limited the Cavs' roster flexibility.

Before releasing Williams, the team had the maximum of 15 players on the roster. Now they will have a spot to use if they want to pick up another free agent or make an unbalanced trade, where they'd take back more players than they send out.

Later this month there is a good chance the NBA will approve guard Eric Snow's disability retirement and he'll be removed from the roster. In the meantime, the Cavs could sign Williams to a 10-day contract, which the team has hinted may be an option.

So Williams isn't closing the door.

"I can't be down about it, I'm going to be fine," Williams said. "I want to be here, if that doesn't work out. . . . I know I did everything I could do. We'll see what happens and we'll go from there."

Williams' role was primarily to be a practice player and work on a scout team. He was active for just seven games, playing in three of them and scoring one field goal in two attempts. He is well-liked by his teammates.

Waiver wire: With the contract guarantee deadline this week, numerous players have been released across the NBA. With a roster spot to use, the Cavs may be looking at who becomes available. Earlier this week, the Milwaukee Bucks released veteran forward Austin Croshere, whom the Cavs were interested in during the preseason. However, it doesn't appear they will pursue him. Mostly, the Cavs would be in the market for a big man.

No exception for Snow: When a team loses a player to injury for the season or he's forced to retire because of injury, it has the option of asking the league for what is called a disabled player exception, or DPE. This is a salary-cap exception that can be used to sign a player or trade for one. For example, the New York Knicks are attempting to get one for the recently retired Cuttino Mobley.

However, the Cavs are ineligible to apply for a DPE for Snow, even though they now have a roster spot because Snow's initial injury, a torn meniscus, occurred before last season. The Cavs do, however, have $5.1 million left from their midlevel exception they could use.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bwindhorst@plaind.com, 216-999-5166