Report: Cavaliers Amnesty Baron Davis

The Cleveland Cavaliers have amnestied point guard Baron Davis, via a tweet by PDcavsinsider, which is the account of the Plain Dealer's Cavaliers beat writers Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer.

The Cavaliers also have now released an official statement:

"We would like to thank Baron for his contributions to the team during his time in Cleveland," said General Manager Chris Grant. "He has been an absolute professional since the day he joined the Cavs and we now wish him the best in the future."

Ever since details emerged about the new amnesty clause, Baron Davis has been rumored to be amnestied.

According to a tweet by ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Cavaliers are now approximately $8 million under salary cap and will be approximately $20 million under next summer.

Davis had been visible at Cleveland's facilities during the first two days of training camp, but had yet to practice with the team due to tightness in his lower back, missing his fourth straight practice on Wednesday. The latest report indicated that Davis was out with a bulging disc in his back and was expected to be sidelined two-to-three weeks.

The 32 year-old Davis averaged 13.5 points and 6.3 assists in 58 games last season split between the Los Angeles Clippers and Cavaliers. Not that it wasn't already clear, but first overall pick Kyrie Irving is the starting point guard in Cleveland.

Baron Davis To Miss 2-3 Weeks, Manny Harris Projected To Be Out Two Weeks

Another day of hectic training camps, another day of injuries to report. The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves with a couple significant ailments, the least of which isn't to Baron Davis, who missed his fourth-straight day of practice. His third was Tuesday, when he was seeking a second opinion, and according to the Plain Dealer, the second opinion didn't have good news. Davis is out indefinitely with a bulging disc, though the current estimate is two-to-three weeks.

In other news, Semih Erden is officially out three weeks with a broken thumb. Daniel Gibson missed practice with a tooth extraction which, obviously, shouldn't keep him out long. Omri Casspi is day-to-day with a right knee sprain. Lastly, Manny Harris was shooting after practice, but officially missed practice, and is projected to be out for two weeks. 

The Plain Dealer is calling Harris' injury, officially, a foot ulcer. The two weeks is currently a loose figure.

Cavaliers Training Camp 2011: Baron Davis Sits Out Practice Again

The Cleveland Cavaliers have yet to use the amnesty clause to release point guard Baron Davis as many NBA observers speculated would happen by now.

The intrigue surrounding Davis continues as the Cavs practiced for the third day of their abbreviated training camp without the veteran point guard in the building. Davis has yet to practice with the Cavs due to tightness in his lower back, but he had been visible at the team's facilities on the first two days.

After practice concluded on Saturday, Davis took time to speak with the media and said all of the right things about appreciating the situation in Cleveland and the veteran role he could play with the young team. Play a backup role behind rookie Kyrie Irving? No problem.

Considering Davis has two years and $28 million left on his contract, it is hard to believe the Cleveland front office isn't trying to arrange some form of buyout, if not using the amnesty clause, while Davis is protecting his health to sell his talent to other teams following a release.

Cavaliers Training Camp 2011: Byron Scott Ready To Mentor Rookie Kyrie Irving

Rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers just in time to start training camp on Friday as the Cavs prepare to begin building around the youth on their roster. Fear The Sword has details on rookie contracts.

Veteran point guard Baron Davis remains on the roster technically and was in the gym when the Cavs opened up training camp on Friday, but is not expected to suit up for the Cavaliers this season nor play the role of mentor for the young Irving as he gets his feet wet in the NBA. That's just fine with head coach Byron Scott because he'd prefer to leave Irving's career guidance to someone with a little more experience -- himself.

"To be honest with you, you know who the best mentor for Kyrie is? You are looking at him," Scott said.

'"I have had that situation with Chris Paul [in New Orleans] as well. I don't want to sound cocky guys, but you are looking at him. I'm the best . . . but in that sense as well, we have a lot of good veterans on this team that will help him."

NBA Rumors: Baron Davis Not Sure How Long He'll Be In Cleveland

It certainly looked like the Cleveland Cavaliers were going to use their amnesty clause on Baron Davis, who is owed $28 million over the next two years, but that has not yet been the case. Davis was at the Cavs' first practice on Friday and says he's living in the present: 

As Scott Schroeder mentioned the other day, the Cavs could also use the amnesty on Antawn Jamison, who is owed $15 million this season, just over one million more than Davis.

Cleveland Cavaliers Free Agent Rumors: Baron Davis Not Yet Released

For now, Baron Davis is still with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was originally thought that the Cavs would use their amnesty clause to get rid of the mercurial point guard, but according to Cleveland.com, he is still on the roster and is in town for the first day of training camp on Friday:

Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant said Friday that Davis is in town for the first day of training camp and that no decision has been made whether to waive him through the amnesty clause or another means.

If he does not get cut, Davis will be expected to be a mentor for rookie point guard Kyrie Irving. Current coach Byron Scott, however, feels differently. In the same article about Davis, Scott stated that he was the best possible mentor for the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Davis still has $28 million left on his contract, which he would be paid upon his release.

Cleveland Cavaliers Using Amnesty Clause On Baron Davis No Sure Thing

The Cleveland Cavaliers have an amnesty clause to use thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement with Baron Davis being the mostly likely option to have his salary cleared from the books. Earlier Thursday it was even reported that the Cavaliers had decided on that option, but the latest reports indicate that Davis could remain on the roster.

The Cavs have not made a decision on whether to use the amnesty clause on Baron Davis, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst. The report goes directly against what Yahoo! Sports counterpart Marc Spears reported earlier in the day, but considering Windhorst was previously a beat writer for the Cavs, it makes sense that he would still have sources in the city.

The Cavs could also use the amnesty clause on Antawn Jamison as he's owed $15 million this season -- just over one million more than Davis -- but considering Davis has an extra season on his contract and the Cavs have three point guards on the roster without him, it would seem he would be the wiser cut from the books.

Baron Davis Era With Cleveland Cavaliers To End With Amnesty Clause

The Cleveland Cavaliers likely didn't have Baron Davis in their future plans when they selected fellow point guard Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick in this year's NBA Draft. The Cavs are likely to make that official when the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified this week, too, by way of the new amnesty clause.

Davis is over roughly $28 million for the next two years, but the Cavs are reportedly planning on removing his contract from the books by way of the new clause in the collective bargaining agreement, according to Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

Davis will still receive the remaining amount of money left on his deal, but his contract will not count against the team's salary cap.

With Davis soon leaving the picture, Irving will join a backcourt that includes incumbents Daniel Gibson and Ramon Sessions. If that's the way the regular season begins, it's likely Irving will begin his professional career as the starting point guard.

NBA Free Agency 2011: Aaron Afflalo To Cleveland?

Grantland.com's Bill Simmons continued his solid breakdown of the upcoming NBA free agency period with an article yesterday breaking down the possible destinations of the top available shooting guards. One of the top two-guards on the market is Arron Afflalo, whose defensive prowess and scoring ability make him a very desirable player on the current market. Simmons feels that the Cleveland Cavaliers could be a possible suitor, especially if they use their amnesty clause on Baron Davis to free up even more salary cap space:

As soon as Cleveland dumps Baron, it can offer Afflalo a four-year deal for a little more than $38 million. I would do this yesterday. Unfortunately for the Cavs, he can do better … which means they're headed for Nick Young (maybe four years, $32 million)?

Ultimately, Simmons feels Afflalo could be a target of divisional rival Indiana, who has the cap space and the need for him.

NBA Free Agency 2011: Other Teams Interested In Anthony Parker

While the Cleveland Cavaliers are very much interested in bringing back veteran shooting guard Anthony Parker, Parker is also garnering interest from other teams around the league. According to the New York Post, the Knicks are one of those teams:

With free-agent forward Grant Hill looking like a long shot, the Knicks have expressed interest in Cavaliers sharpshooter Anthony Parker, The Post has learned.

Though the Knicks’ priority is a defensive center, they seem also intent on getting a 3-point-shooting small forward, a leader who can defend coming off the bench. Parker, who once played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, shot 38 percent from 3-point land last season, averaging 8.3 points.

If not Parker through free agency, the Knicks are supposedly interested in plucking from the glut of guards the Cavs currently have signed, if possible. In addition to the Knicks' interest in Parker, the Celtics are also said to be interested in his services. 

NBA Free Agency 2011: Cleveland Cavaliers Want To Bring Back Anthony Parker

With teams now allowed to speak with free agents, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot of work to do to improve upon their 19-63 season a year ago. 

According to general manager Chris Grant, the team's first step is bringing back veteran shooting guard Anthony Parker: 

"We absolutely want Anthony Parker back," Cavs general manager Chris Grant said Thursday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. "I think he's fantastic. I thought he played great last year. He was an even better leader for us. He's one of those people we feel great about." [...]

"We made it perfectly clear that we'd like to have him back," Grant said.

The 36-year-old averaged just eight points, three assists, and three rebounds in about 29 minutes per game last year. He finished with a 10.5 PER, a .505 TS-percentage, and 1.5 WS, his worst since rejoining the NBA in 2006-2007.

Beyond Parker, the Cavs are not expected to be very active in free agency, as GM Grant wants to see the young guys play together and re-evaluate what he has then.

NBA Trade Rumors: Cavaliers Have Plenty Of Free Agent Options

For more on the Cavs, visit SB Nation's Fear the Sword.