Cavs' Trade for Baron Davis Was All About the Draft Pick

February 24 2011 Last updated at 03:57 PM ET

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- What does a rebuilding team do when it wants draft picks to help recover from the departure of the league's two-time MVP? It trades another of its popular players for a first-round pick, and agrees to take on almost $28 million in salary for an aging, oft-injured point guard.

Such is the fate of the Cleveland Cavaliers that it celebrated a trade Thursday that took point guard Baron Davis from his home in Los Angeles and dropped him in Cleveland in the middle of winter. Davis goes from playing on the same team as Blake Griffin to joining a 10-47 team.

And the Cavs were exultant -- because they acquired a first-round draft pick that will give them two lottery picks this summer. They said they were happy about acquiring Davis, too, but sending Mo Williams and Jamario Moon to the Clippers was much more about getting that first-round draft pick.

"Our scouting department just got a little busier, which is a good thing," said GM Chris Grant.

Even if the scouts will be looking at a draft that isn't considered the strongest. Grant discounted that theory, saying he believed two picks -- one no lower than fourth, the other probably in the eight-to-10 range -- should produce two good players.

"It's another chip in the game," Grant said of the second first-round selection.

This is the way the Cavs need to build since LeBron James left them. That move gutted the team, practically and emotionally, and Williams seemed to take it as hard as anyone. He gets a chance for a fresh start with a team that seems to have a future superstar on its roster in Griffin. Moon was included to make salary figures work, and because his contract expires after the season.

The Cavs said all the right things about Davis, who brings two more years and the remaining $28 million on his contract with him. Fans, though, might want to move to Missouri before judging, because Davis will need to show them he is serious about playing. Coach Byron Scott summed things up when he said: "When he wants to play he is one of the top point guards in the league."

The key words, obviously, were "when he wants to play." In his time with the Clippers, Davis shot 39 percent and the team went 69-153.

Scott understands firsthand about that. He and Davis did not mesh when Davis was with New Orleans in 2003-04 and Scott was the coach. But last summer Davis approached Scott and apologized.

"Speechless," Scott said in describing his feelings at the time. Scott said Davis told him he now understands the coach was merely challenging him to improve, and Davis gave Scott a big hug and told the coach "I love you."

If he believes and buys in with the Cavs, Davis ideally would be a veteran leader on a team that is getting younger by the minute. If he doesn't, Scott won't play him and a lot of money will sit on the bench.

Williams was a big contributor the previous two seasons in Cleveland when he, James and the Cavs won more than 60 games two years in a row. But injuries hurt his production this season, and he never seemed to get over the fact that James left.

Consider it more fallout from James' "decision," which has had huge repercussions throughout the league. It led to Carmelo Anthony refusing to commit to an extension in Denver, which led to his trade to his desired spot, the Knicks. It led to Utah realizing Deron Williams might leave and trading him as well. It led to the Cavs going from first to worst (in the regular season at least).

And it has resulted in the Cavs propelling themselves full-force toward the lottery, where they hope draft picks will rebuild the team.

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