Cleveland Cavaliers’ coach Byron Scott started rookie Kyrie Irving in the teams’ first regular season game on 12/26/11 against the Toronto Raptors. This was a decision that many were on the fence about. What really seemed odd is that coach Scott not only started the rookie, but he put him back in the game in the last few minutes when the Cavs were down. Irving was not having a good shooting game.

Ramon Sessions was having a hot night with shooting, but coach Scott benched him in favor of Irving in those last critical minutes. Coach Scott says that Irving has to get used to these types of situations. This makes sense.

“It’s a developmental thing right now,” said coach Scott. “I’ve got to get this young man (Irving) used to closing out games and I have to find out what he has, what he’s made of when the games are on the line in situations like that.”

Coach Scott is in his 12^th season as a coach in the NBA so he knows what he is doing. Plus, he is in a tough spot with the Cavs. He is trying to win games, but he is also trying to mold and mentor new players at the same time. This is a difficult balance.

Kyrie Irving does need to be in those high-pressure situations in order to get used to them and to build up the confidence and skills to tackle them effectively. The NBA is a completely different world and a whole new level of competition for him. He is obviously a skilled player, but he has to get used to playing against guys of NBA caliber. So, it seems that coach Scott’s decision to put him in at such a critical time was a good one, at least from an experience-gaining standpoint.

Plus, as Ramon Sessions has said, Irving did start the game, so it only makes sense that he also close it out.

Irving is a new player in the NBA, so there are going to be bumps in the road. He was rather impressive during the preseason and he looked bumpy during the first regular season game. This is to be expected. As coach Scott provides him with more experience and opportunities to improve his craft, he is sure to become a cornerstone of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. She was raised a Cavs’ fan and has remained loyal through all of the teams ups and downs. She remains confident that the Cavs will bring home a championship at some point in her life. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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Cleveland Cavaliers point guard and top overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft Kyrie Irving started the Cavs’ season opener over veteran Ramon Sessions. Sessions started in the preseason games but this move was not a surprise. The Cavs need Irving to get all the experience he can get. Irving finished with six points (2 – 12 from the floor), three rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and a turnover in 26 minutes.

Irving was shaky for most of the game. He has a long way to go but this was his first real game since tearing a ligament in his right big toe over a year ago while playing for Duke. He played a mere 11 games in his only season there.

Playing point guard in the NBA will be a tough transition from college. It is the hardest position to play. Irving should be fine but it will take time. When he starts getting more confident in his game, we should see a big improvement.

Tristan Thompson

The Cavs’ other lottery pick in the 2011 NBA Draft was Tristan Thompson. He was picked fourth overall. Thompson fared better than Irving did but he was under less pressure. He scored 13 points and hauled in five boards in the game.

Hopefully, Thompson was not taking notes as his mentor, Antawn Jamison, was jacking up 20 shots while making only six. Jamison even launched four three point attempts. He made none of those, of course. Jamison was heaving the ball at the rim like a shooting guard. It seemed like he shot the ball every time he had it. If he could play a little defense, it would be helpful.

Thompson scored one less point than Jamison on 14 less shots. His seven free throw attempts were more than any other Cav. He did that while only playing only 17 minutes. Thompson was impressive.

One game

It is hard to judge this young team by just one game. It was a game that the Cavs could have won but, like Irving said after the game, this was just one game with 65 to go.

I live in Ohio. The Cavaliers are Ohio’s NBA team. I am also a Kentucky Wildcat fan. You can follow me on Twitter here. Still want more? Go to my blog.

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Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving didn’t take long to impress coach Byron Scott. Irving will be the Cleveland Cavaliers starting point guard against the Toronto Raptors in the December 26, 2011 game. In the two preseason games, Ramon Sessions has been the starting point guard and coach Scott said that Irving had to “earn” the starting spot. It seems like he has done that.

Irving has shown that he can handle the point guard position in the two preseason games. When it comes to offense, he is a rather strong player. However, defensively, he does need to strengthen his skills. This will surely be done as he gains more experience and the veteran players that surround him, like Anthony Parker, will certainly be at his side to help free him up to take the shots.

It is said that Sessions understands Irving starting tonight and that coach Scott took the time to explain his reasoning. When Irving was asked about starting in this game, Irving said, “honestly, it didn’t matter to me if I started tonight or not. Me and Ramon are two great point guards. Either way, we’re going to bring the same intensity.”

This is actually a smart move on the part of coach Scott. The Raptors are not the strongest team in the NBA, so it gives him a chance to see how Irving does as a starter in a regular season game against a team that isn’t going to put on an extreme amount of pressure. Sessions will be there to help guide him and give him pointers, as well as some breaks. Irving will also be on the floor with veterans like Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker and Anderson Varejao, so he will definitely have a little help if he appears to be getting into any trouble.

Ultimately, this is Irving’s shot to show coach Scott, his teammates and Cavs’ fans that he has starting potential. If he can lead the team well in the point guard position, he may find himself on the starting roster regularly.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. She was raised a Cavs’ fan and has remained loyal through all of the teams ups and downs. She remains confident that the Cavs will bring home a championship at some point in her life. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking toward the future. Kyrie Irving is a legitimate Rookie of the Year contender. With two of the top draft picks (Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson) now a part of the Cavs’ organization, the Cavs will need to play aggressive basketball to win games. Here is a breakdown of each position:

Point Guard

Baron Davis is gone and the Irving-era has begun. Coach Byron Scott has yet to name who will start at point guard between Ramon Sessions and Kyrie Irving but there is no doubt that the Cavs’ first round pick (Irving) will take over at some point. Regardless of who starts, though, the Cavs might have one of the best point guard tandems in the league. Unfortunately, they won’t be able to play together much.

Irving is the real deal. He has polish, speed, and a nice jumper. He makes it look easy getting to the rim and finding teammates in spots where they can score. He will need to improve, of course. Irving is not going to be an elite point guard this season as he adjusts to the NBA but he is plenty good already.

Sessions looks like he has worked on his game during the lockout. He seems to have picked up strength and might be taking defense seriously. He isn’t a great shooter but he can get to the rim and hopefully score when he gets there.

Right now, the offense looks better with Irving at the point. Sessions might not even be with the Cavs after the trade deadline.

Shooting Guard

Anthony Parker is a 36-year-old shooting guard who showed he still has some game left. He can put up points in the right situation and his veteran leadership will help a young team like this. Daniel Gibson is pretty much a one-dimensional player. He can launch open threes with the best of them but that is about it. Gibson can also run the point if necessary.

Power Forward

Speaking of older players who have seen their best years pass by, Antawn Jamison is back. He’ll be relied on to score and should reach the 18 points a game he put up last season. He has looked like a player on the downside so far in the preseason. Jamison will get it going in time for the first game and will likely be the Cavs’ leading scorer. Tristan Thompson is an aggressive rebounder and defender who can attack the rim. He doesn’t have a reliable jumper yet but that may come in time. Overall, his offensive game is raw. Jamison might be able to help him refine some low-post moves.

Shooting Forward

Omri Casspi could be ready to take the next step. Some are saying that he might be a breakout player. Last season, he scored 8.6 points a game for the Kings. This season, he’ll have plenty of chances to improve upon that. Casspi needs to work on his defense. Watching him play, however, it’s obvious that he is a tough competitor who makes his presence known when he is on the floor.

Center

Anderson Varejao suffered a torn tendon in his ankle last year and had to sit out 51 games. He was badly missed when he went down. He feels really good and is excited to be back out on the court. He brings energy, hustle and rebounding to the team. Varejao is clearly the best rebounder on this year’s Cavalier’s team. His emotional leadership and team-first attitude will undoubtedly help the team get through another tough season. If Varejao goes down again, they will be in trouble.

Overall

This team will go as far as Irving can take them. With help from the veterans, they should be able to improve upon their 19 win 2010-11 season. The Bulls are the class of the division but second place is wide open.

Living in Ohio, I am a fan of Ohio’s NBA team – the Cleveland Cavaliers. You can follow me on Twitter here. Still want more? Go to my blog.

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For a player who was expected to miss the entire two-game preseason for the Cleveland Cavaliers, newly acquired Omri Casspi shined in his debut as the Cavaliers fell to the Detroit Pistons 90-89 on Tuesday, December 20.

Casspi has been dealing with a sprained right knee in recent days but was able to participate with success in Cleveland’s free public scrimmage on Sunday, December 18. In that contest he scored nine points in 17 minutes.

In tonight’s preseason game against the Pistons he led all Cavaliers scorers with 18 points in 30 minutes coming off the bench. He went 8-11 in field goals and was 2-4 from the three-point line. Add five rebounds and a blocked shot to the mix and it would be safe to assume he will be a welcome addition to the team this season.

Rookie Kyrie Irving appeared for just over 25 minutes scoring 11 points in a 5-12 performance from the field. He logged a couple of rebounds, a few assists, and a pair of steals in his effort. It wasn’t fantastic, but he was not the primary focus of the preseason game.

The other premier rookie, Tristan Thompson, grabbed five rebounds and eight points in nearly 21 minutes of play. He was 3-7 from the field.

The pair of preseason games gave Cavs fans a taste for what is in store this upcoming season. Don’t get me wrong; the team will struggle this season. They are still a lottery team but will be much better than they were last season.

An eventual starting five of Irving, Thompson, Anderson Varejao, Casspi, and Anthony Parker may not be the ideal lineup but there is enough skill with the veterans and potential with the rookies to at least make them a competitive squad.

A bench of Ramon Sessions, Antawn Jamison, Daniel Gibson, Samardo Samuels, and whoever else makes the squad is still a decent team. They are not playoff caliber, but no one expects them to be just yet.

I do know that when I go down to the “Q” to watch the Cavs in action I will be entertained and will have a legitimate chance at victory each game. It is a team in transition, but for once in Cleveland, it is a team in transition where an end result is in sight.

The Cavs open regular season action at home on Monday, December 26 against the Toronto Raptors.

More Cleveland Cavaliers Commentary from this Contributor:

Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving defeat Detroit Pistons 91-87: A fan’s reaction

Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers is better for business: A fan’s perspective

Cleveland Cavaliers use amnesty clause, waive Baron Davis: A fan’s reaction

Cleveland Cavaliers’ rookies ready to make an impact: A fan’s take

Sources:

All data provided by NBA.com

Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Cavaliers fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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Mychel Thompson is one of the newest Cleveland Cavaliers to hit the court for the 2011-12 season. He has known the Cavs’ coach – Byron Scott – his entire life because his father and coach Scott played together in Los Angeles. However, Thompson expects no favoritism.

“He’s doing pretty good,” said coach Byron Scott. “He’s a solid basketball player. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He just does what he knows he can do. He’s pretty good on the defensive end.”

Thompson is an undrafted player. Traditionally, undrafted players have an uncertain future in the NBA, but with the Cavs, Thompson’s future could possibly be rather bright. During last season, Jawad Williams, Manny Harris, Jamario Moon and Samardo Samuels were all undrafted.

Manny Harris is still with the team, but is currently not playing due to having an ulcer on his right foot. Samardo Samuels is still on the roster and is getting game time this season. He actually had 15 points in the first 2011-12 preseason game. Jamario Moon was traded off to another NBA team last season. Williams is still with the Cavs.

Based on looking at the Cavs’ track record with undrafted players, there is a chance that Thompson will have a home with the Cavs, at least for the remainder of this shortened season. This could be especially true if any of the front court ends up injured at some point during the season.

During the first preseason game (12/16/11) of this season, Thompson made a three-pointer, had a blocked shot and had three rebounds. This is not too bad for his first professional basketball game. Coach Scott is optimistic about him and so am I.

Thompson has basketball in his blood and he is definitely passionate and motivated. As the Cavs tackle more difficult teams, like the Knicks and Celtics, we will truly get to see how well Thompson can adapt to the Cavs and NBA.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. She was raised a Cavs’ fan and has remained loyal through all of the teams ups and downs. She remains confident that the Cavs will bring home a championship at some point in her life. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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The Cleveland Cavaliers used the amnesty clause on Baron Davis and on Friday, December 16, 2011, Davis cleared waivers. This made him eligible to head to another NBA team if he chose to. Well, the New York Knicks picked up Davis and did not waste any time.

“Davis and the Knicks have agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, which is the maximum New York could pay in using what is known as the “mini” mid-level exception for luxury-tax teams,” reports ESPN.

Right now Davis is off the court with a back injury. He has two bulging discs. From personal experience I know that this injury can be a lengthy one to recovery from. It is estimated that he will need at least eight to 10 weeks to recover, but there is always the chance that it could take longer. The season is already cut short because of the lockout, so Davis may not see much court time with the Knicks.

Despite Davis being injured at this time, it is said that the Knicks went after him rather aggressively. Their backcourt does need some help and when Davis is healthy, he is definitely a solid choice. Personally, being a Cavs’ fan, I think the Cavs should have kept Davis on this year. Even if he had not been on the court much, he could have been an excellent mentor to rookie point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving is already showing promise, but with direction from an All-Star veteran like Davis, he could really shine.

Carmelo Anthony has expressed a lot of excitement about Davis joining the Knicks. He is reported as saying, “everybody knows what he can do when he’s healthy and when he’s focused. I was here for two months last year and we played (the Cavaliers) quite a bit of time when I got here and he was healthy then. They beat us and he was a big part of those wins. When BD (Davis) is healthy, he’s one of the best.”

If only the Cavs would have recognized this. He is good, both on the court and when on the sidelines. His experience alone is of great value. I, of course, wish him luck, but wish the Cavs would have just kept him on the roster.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. She was raised a Cavs’ fan and has remained loyal through all of the teams ups and downs. She remains confident that the Cavs will bring home a championship at some point in her life. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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As the Cleveland Cavaliers complete their first preseason game of the 2011-12 season, they are already looking better and more in sync than they did last season. On Friday (12/16/11), the Cavs defeated the Detroit Pistons 91 to 87 and while there were some bumps during the game, the team recovered quickly and kept pushing forward.

Rookie Kyrie Irving and veteran Antawn Jamison were who to watch tonight. Surprisingly, Samardo Samuels also pulled in 15 points for the Cavs tonight. He looked pretty clumsy when he first entered the game and then seemed to find his rhythm. He took several fouls and made most of the shots. Jamison had 13 points and Irving led the Cavs with 21 points in his first NBA game.

A lot of people were skeptical about Irving since he only played in 11 college basketball games, but if this game is any indication of how he will fare in the NBA, I think it is safe to say that the Cavs have a very solid and skilled player on their hands that will only get better with time and increased experience.

Tristan Thompson also got some time on the court tonight and really showed off his defensive skills. In addition to his epic block that had the jaws of many Pistons on the floor, he also scored eight points. In a way, he almost reminded me of J.J. Hickson in how Hickson would literally slam the ball to the ground when blocking and seem to show up exactly when he was needed.

Will the Cavs be playoff contenders this season? Probably not, but of course it is too soon to tell and if you know anything about Cleveland sports, you know they are unpredictable. However, it seems certain that even without playoffs, the Cavs are definitely headed for more wins and a more exciting and explosive season than they had last year. Not only do they have some new and talented players, but they have a new sense of direction and motivation to take the court and set it on fire.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. She was raised a Cavs’ fan and has remained loyal through all of the teams ups and downs. She remains confident that the Cavs will bring home a championship at some point in her life. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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The Cleveland Cavaliers must have a lot of confidence in their No.1 pick, point guard Kyrie Irving. They opted to use their amnesty clause to waive Baron Davis and complete a well-orchestrated trade in the process. In hindsight, it all began when Cleveland acquired Davis along with the Los Angeles Clippers first round draft pick in exchange for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. Now, the Cavaliers have Irving and 8 million dollars of wiggle room under the cap this year and 20 million next season. Let’s just hope the whole LeBron James ordeal taught the Cavaliers a much needed lesson.

Always a class act

While I liked Baron Davis and hate to see him go, it will be interesting to watch what Irving can do. Besides, this did not really come as any surprise. 32 year-old Davis has been out of training camp due to a bulging back disc and while he was saying all the right things, there was a lot of doubt in his future with the Cavaliers. I wish him the best of luck wherever he lands, he was a class act, right down to his farewell words on his Twitter page, “I’m going to miss Cleveland fans and the organization! When I was down and out you believed in me and embraced me! I will always be a Cav!”

Bold contrast

The management seems to feel the same way. Their official announcement was full of respect. “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.” That is a big contrast to the infamous letter Cavalier owner Dan Gilbert issued after LeBron left.

On with the new

Kyrie Irving will get his big debut Friday, during the preseason opener against Detroit. Then the teams meet again at the Q on Dec. 20. Head coach Byron Scott is showing knowing but confidence in Irving’s abilities, he said, “He’s pretty good. The one thing about Kyrie is each day he shows you a little something special. The first day it might have been one thing. Then we had a scrimmage and there were five or six things. He’s progressing very nicely.”

More by Sylvie Branch:

Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Byron Scott Keeping the Training Wheels on Training Camp

Christmas in Cleveland, Lockout Over. Fan’s Reaction

Cleveland Cavaliers Baron Davis is Hot in Cleveland: Fan Report

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The New York Knicks should definitely try to pursue point guard Baron Davis if he becomes available this week. It seems clear that Davis will not stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers for much longer, potentially making him a free agent that the Knicks could sign for the veteran’s minimum.

There are two options that could land Davis in New York for the upcoming season, with the first being that the Cavaliers would use the NBA amnesty clause on him. Cleveland owes Davis just under $14 million this season and would likely have to pay him the nearly $15 million player option for next year. The team could choose to use the amnesty clause to take him off the salary cap and then pursue other free agents. The other option is that Cleveland could simply waive him and save the amnesty clause.

Davis is not the healthiest of guards out there and has been going through some back problems. If he is healthy though, he could become the perfect distributor for the Knicks in the 2011-12 NBA season. He can still score a lot of points in spurts, but would best serve the Knicks as a veteran taking care of the ball and helping get Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire the best shots possible. He would also come very cheap, because the Cavaliers are on the hook for the majority of his salary no matter how it plays out.

Last season for Cleveland, Davis averaged 28.4 minutes per game, putting up 13.1 points and 6.7 assists in those games. With Davis and Mike Bibby splitting time at the position, it would also give the Knicks a lot of depth off the bench. That’s exactly what the team needs after parting with more assets in order to make the Tyson Chandler deal work out.

Even if the Knicks end up making a deal with Jamal Crawford to come in as the starting shooting guard, the team should try its best to bring in Davis as well. With the abridged season, the Knicks have to add depth to the roster, and it has to come from inexpensive contracts. Adding some savvy veterans to the mix of young players off the bench could really give the frontcourt trio of stars the best chance to make it deep into the Eastern Conference Playoffs this year.

More From YCN :

Knicks_Trade_For_Chandler

A Look at Knicks Roster

Salary Cap Impact on Knicks

Chris Paul to New York

Source:

Full Knicks Schedule

New York Knicks Website

*Ryan Christopher DeVault is a fan of the New York Knicks that has followed the team since the days John Starks, Charles Oakley, and Anthony Mason instilled their defensive will on the rest of the league.

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To no one’s surprise, the Cavs will likely cut ties with veteran point guard Baron Davis. The Plain Dealer reports: “The Cavaliers and agents representing the 32-year-old Davis spoke Thursday to discuss his future with the franchise, The Plain Dealer has learned. Earlier in the day, Yahoo Sports reported the Cavaliers had planned to waive Davis through the amnesty clause once the new collective bargaining agreement became official. The Plain Dealer has not confirmed the Yahoo report, but a league source said no decision had been reached as of late Thursday night … The Cavaliers are under the impression they will have access to their $14.5 million trade exception, which can be used in whole or in part. How this might involve Davis is not known. What’s also uncertain is how much Davis’ desire to be a free agent was driving Thursday’s discussions. To this point much of the focus has been trained on the team’s decision, but it could be Davis wants a chance to play for a contender and is seeing what the Cavs can do to facilitate it. Just two days ago, sources told The Plain Dealer the Cavaliers would take a methodical approach to arguably its biggest preseason decision, perhaps letting Davis play an exhibition game or two before reaching a verdict.”

That’s all the news for today.

Read More: Baron Davis (G – CLE), Antawn Jamison (F – CLE), Cleveland Cavaliers

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.

Leave your comments on the news below.

Read More: Baron Davis (G – CLE), Antawn Jamison (F – CLE), Cleveland Cavaliers

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.

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When the Cleveland Cavaliers went 19-63 during the 2010-11 season after a 61-21 season the year before, it was hard not to vilify “he who shall not be named” at least a little while longer. The franchise had grown accustomed to winning, with the buzz of Cavaliers basketball echoing in every restaurant and sports bar in downtown Cleveland. Overnight, the excitement was gone.

Last season, the Cavaliers were the second worst franchise in the NBA. It is hard to believe after the horrific season they had, the Minnesota Timberwolves were actually worse with a record of 17-65.

Their luck started to change when they traded the widely popular Mo Williams(notes) and Jamario Moon(notes) to the Los Angeles Clippers for Baron Davis(notes) and what would become the No. 1 pick in the draft. That pick would in turn bring rookie PG Kyrie Irving(notes) to the Cavs.

Cleveland is now in an interesting position where they can keep Davis, utilizing his skill and experience on the court as well as his ability to mentor young Irving, or use their amnesty clause to waive him and remove the $28.7 million owed to Davis over the next two years.

Outspoken owner Dan Gilbert is not tight with his pocketbook so for once a decision will be made on what is best for the team from a more broad standpoint over what is best for the bottom line.

With their own No. 4 pick in the draft, the Cavs selected a defensive powerhouse in PF/SF Tristan Thompson(notes). Many fans were left scratching their head after the announcement was made, preferring the likes of C Jonas Valanciunas(notes) or SF/PF Jan Vesely(notes) to Thompson. I do, however, think he will surprise a lot of critics with his contributions to the team right from the start.

Will Irving and Thompson lead the Cleveland Cavaliers back to the playoffs this season? It is unlikely, but they will become the foundation for a rebuilt franchise that was once centered on a single player that often dictated his demands. The team has learned its lesson and will likely make better decisions moving forward.

It is a year of rebuilding for the Cavs, but Irving and Thompson will surely add excitement to this year’s squad.

Sources:

All data provided by NBA.com

Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Cavaliers fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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It is no secret that the Cleveland Cavaliers have a battle facing them with what is left of this season. We have some real talent, but it seems that the Cavs are somewhat like a puzzle that is missing the most critical pieces. With the first game less than a month away, it is time to start thinking about who will likely be the five starters to kick off the Cavs’ 2011-12 NBA season.

For the first game, we will likely see Baron Davis(notes) – given that amnesty does not take him away – starting as point guard. If amnesty “kicks in”, then it will likely be Ramon Sessions(notes) starting. A lot of people want to see Kyrie Irving(notes) starting on day one, but Byron Scott is not the type of coach to do this. He will put experience on the floor first. Joining either Davis or Sessions will be Anthony Parker(notes), Anderson Verejao, Antawn Jamison(notes) and Omri Casspi(notes).

Having Verejao back is definitely nice and will certainly be beneficial. His energy is extreme and he lends a lot to the team.

We have to hope that Davis remains with the team because while he is definitely talented, it is his leadership that the Cavs need more than anything.

Casspi will go with the flow and is not a take control player. This is another reason that we need a leadership player so badly.

Jamison is not the strongest defender, but he is talented offensively. He is also a veteran that can lend some leadership to the team along with Davis.

Anthony Parker is not young anymore, but he still has some good plays in him, as well as experience.

Will the Cavs do better than last season? Well, they really cannot do worse. They have talent, they just need to figure out where to put the talent on the floor. We have a steep, uphill battle for what remains of this season, but if the Cavs are anything, they are fighters. They will continue to fight and play and give the fans something to watch.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. She was raised a Cavs’ fan and has remained loyal through all of the teams ups and downs. She remains confident that the Cavs will bring home a championship at some point in her life.

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