The Cleveland Cavaliers have decided to waive Baron Davis under the amnesty clause, the team announced on Wednesday night. Davis is out for at least two months with a back injury, and is owed about $27 million dollars in guaranteed money. Additionally, the Cavaliers picked up Kyrie Irving in the 2011 NBA Draft, and expect the rookie to compete right away.
In a statement, the team thanked Davis while announcing the decision to waive him. ESPN's Marc Stein also noted the addition of Irving made Davis, and his large contract, expendable.
Yet the overriding sentiment within the organization calls for handing the keys of the franchise to Irving right away. With Ramon Sessions on the books in Cleveland for two more seasons at a cap-friendly salary and Daniel Gibson coming off his best season, letting Davis go now eases a potential backcourt logjam.
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