"At some point between now and Christmas, the Cavaliers will have a sticky situation to resolve in regard to their amnesty clause. They must decide whether to waive Baron Davis before this season or next.

It's bound to happen eventually, the Cavs just have to figure out when the time is right.

All of the details regarding the amnesty clause won't be worked out until the new labor deal is ratified later this week. Teams are expected to have the option to exercise the amnesty clause on one player currently on the roster during the length of the labor agreement, but they have to do it before the start of each season.

That means anyone signed next week and after isn't eligible, only current contracts. By exercising the amnesty clause, the team will still be responsible for the contract, but it will not count against the salary cap. Antawn Jamison and Davis are the only two big-ticket contracts left on the Cavs' roster, but Jamison has one year left and Davis has two years and $28 million remaining, making him the ideal candidate.

If the Cavs have to pay him anyway, they might be better off keeping Davis around or they might not.

Davis brought a level of talent, maturity and swagger to a team that desperately needed all three last year. He is familiar with the Princeton offense Byron Scott tried unsuccessfully to implement last year, and will no doubt try again this season.

The collective IQ of the team has increased this season. Davis' court awareness and comfort in Scott's offense is obvious, plus top pick Kyrie Irving is a Duke kid and a fairly intelligent player.

J.J. Hickson struggled in Scott's system last season, drawing the coach's ire more than once. And although Mo Williams appeared comfortable at times, he was injured for much of last season and he simply doesn't have the same ability to run an offense that Davis does."