The Cavaliers with be without 22-year old shooting guard Manny Harris for the next two weeks due to a foot ulcer.  Harris played in 54 games (15 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  He only shot 37.4% from the floor as a rookie last year.  Harris was a undrafted rookie last year, so he has done a solid job of getting to his second NBA season.  The Cavs should be o.k, until Harris is ready to return to action.

UPDATE:  (12/22/2011) – The Cavaliers have waived Manny Harris.

The Cavaliers will be without 32-year old point guard Baron Davis indefinitely due to a herniated disc in his back.  Davis played in 15 games (9 starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 25.3 minutes, 13.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He played in 58 games (44 starts) overall for the Clippers & Cavs last year and he averaged 28.4 minutes, 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Lucky for the Cavs, they still have Kyrie Irving, Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson to handle the point until Davis is ready to return to action.

UPDATE:  The Cavaliers have waived Baron Davis via the amnesty clause.

The Cavaliers have re-signed 36-year old shooting guard Anthony Parker to a 1-year deal.  Parker played in 72 games (65 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 29.0 minutes, 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.  He has played in 153 games (146 starts) in his first two years with the Cavs and he has averaged 28.6 minutes, 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.  Parker has now played in 443 games (372 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 28.2 minutes, 9.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  Parker is shooting 40.9% from three point range in his NBA career so far.  Parker’s leadership, long range shooting and defense are still good and those are the reasons the Cavs are bringing him back for the 2011-12 season.

The Cavaliers have waived 29-year old small forward Joey Graham.  Graham played in 39 games (8 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 15.0 minutes, 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 377 games (84 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 16.2 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  The Cavaliers have some depth at small forward, so they shouldn’t miss Graham too much.

29-year old Anderson Varejao is going to be the starting center for the Cavaliers this year and they need him to stay healthy.  He played in 31 games (all starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 32.1 minutes, 9.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 419 games (103 starts) in his first 7 years with the Cavaliers and he is averaging 24.7 minutes, 7.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  “The Wild Thing” is a fan favorite in Cleveland and the Cavs need his all-out hustle, rebounding and defense in 2011-12.  27-year old Ryan Hollins opted to come back to the Cavs in 2011-12.  Hollins played in 70 games (16 starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 16.9 minutes, 5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  He has now played in 275 games (47 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 13.0 minutes, 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  The Cavs need Hollins to toughen up a bit, as he is an underachiever.  25-year old Semih Erden came to the Cavs last year in a deal with the Celtics.  He played in 41 games (8 starts) for the Cavaliers & Celtics and he averaged 14.5 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be in good shape at power forward for the 2011-12 season.  35-year old Antawn Jamison will be the starter, if the Cavs don’t deal him.  Jamison played in 56 games (38 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 32.9 minutes, 18.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.  He has now played in 920 games (793 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 36.5 minutes, 19.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  20-year old first round pick Tristan Thompson will likely backup Jamison this year.  The Cavs have high hopes for Thompson as he was an impressive rebounder and defensive player for the Longhorns last year.  22-year old Samardo Samuels made the team as an undrafted rookie last year and he played pretty decent basketball.  Samuels played in 37 games (10 starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 18.9 minutes, 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  23-year old Luke Harangody came to the Cavaliers during the season last year in a deal with the Celtics.  He played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Cavaliers & Celtics and he averaged 13.1 minutes, 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers dealt for 23-year old Omri Casspi on the day before the lockout with the idea of starting him at small forward in 2011-12.  Casspi played in 71 games (27 starts) for the Kings last year and he averaged 24.0 minutes, 8.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  He has now played in 148 games (58 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.5 minutes, 9.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  24-year old Alonzo Gee will also likely get some minutes at small forward and maybe even some at shooting guard this year.  Gee played in 56 games (34 starts) for the Wizards, Spurs and Cavaliers last year and he averaged 20.0 minutes, 5.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  He has now played in 67 games (36 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 19.4 minutes, 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  It looks like Gee has finally found a team that he will stick with for a while.  22-year old Christian Eyenga will likely be #3 in line at small forward for the Cavaliers in 2011-12.  He played in 44 games (18 starts) as a rookie for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 21.5 minutes, 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Eyenga is very athletic as he skied to block shots and dunk the ball last year, often making Sportscenter highlights on ESPN.  29-year old Joey Graham appears to be the odd man out for P.T. for the Cavs in 2011-12.  He played in 39 games (8 starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 15.0 minutes, 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Graham has now played in 377 games (84 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 16.2 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

25-year old Daniel Gibson will likely be the starting shooting guard for the Cavs this year.  He played in 67 games (15 starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 27.8 minutes, 11.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.  Gibson has now played in 316 games (67 starts) in his first five years in the NBA and he is averaging 23.7 minutes, 8.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.  Gibson has a beautiful shot from long range as he has connected on 41.8% of his shots from three point range in his career for the Cavs.  22-year old Manny Harris showed glimpses of talent as a undrafted rookie last year for the Cavs.  He played in 54 games (15 starts) for the Cavaliers last year and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, but, he only shot 37.4% from the floor.  If his shooting improves, he could turn into an asset for the Cavs as early as this year.

32-year old Baron Davis will likely be the starting point guard for the Cavaliers when the 2011-12 season starts.  He played in 58 games (44 starts) for the Cavaliers & Clippers last year and he averaged 28.4 minutes, 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Davis has now played in 806 games (678 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 34.7 minutes, 16.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game.  25-year old Ramon Sessions played pretty well in his first year with the Cavaliers, but he’s likely to get dealt before the 2011-12 season begins.  Sessions played in 81 games (38 starts) for the Cavs last year and he averaged 26.3 minutes, 13.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.  He has now played in 239 games (85 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 25.1 minutes, 11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.  19-year old rookie Kyrie Irving will likely be doing a lot of learning in 2011-12.  I look for him to backup Baron Davis this year and then taking over as the starter in 2012-13.  The Cavaliers are confident that Irving is going to be the real deal.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be one of the most active teams when the lockout is lifted.  Daniel Gibson, Ramon Sessions and Antawn Jamison are likely all to be on the trading block…..with Sessions being the most likely player to be moved.  The Cavaliers could use a legit shooting guard like a Jason Richardson or Jamal Crawford to boost the offense.  The Cavs did like some of the younger players they used last year and they will likely keep almost all of them to use off the bench.