OAKLAND, Calif. -- Little-used Cavaliers forward Derrick Williams could see meaningful minutes in the Finals, team sources told cleveland.com.

Williams, who is 6-8 and was signed as a free agent on Feb. 9, hasn't been a part of coach Tyronn Lue's regular rotation since March 19, would come off the bench to help guard the Golden State Warriors' smaller lineup.

Richard Jefferson is expected to get the first crack at that role, but if he struggles Lue could turn to Williams, the sources said. The No. 2 pick of the 2011 draft, this is the first playoff run of Williams' career, so his first big minutes could (again, it's not a guarantee) come against a Warriors team that is playing the Cavs for the third consecutive year in the Finals.

Williams was great in February with Cleveland off the bench, playing alongside LeBron James, Kyle Korver, Jefferson and Channing Frye as part of Lue's second lineup. He averaged 6.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 25 games with the Cavs, after beginning the season with the Miami Heat.

The Cavs signed him to two 10-day contracts before inking him for the rest of the season, and talked openly at the time about Williams playing a key role off the bench in a hypothetical Finals rematch with the Warriors.

But Williams became the odd man out of the rotation after point guard Deron Williams was signed, J.R. Smith returned to the lineup and Korver eventually returned from foot trouble.

Williams can guard all five positions, and could see minutes when Golden State's Draymond Green or David West plays the center position and the Warriors use Andre Iguodala off the bench.

Williams said Lue has told him to stay ready for this series.

"I've got to be ready," Williams said. "There's no time to be thinking about if I'm ready or not ready. This is the time, this is the place. This is where you make a name. Make a name for yourself, your team, your family."