Austin Daye Released by Cavaliers: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Needing to trim their roster before the season starts next week, the Cleveland Cavaliers have made a slew of moves, most notably waiving Austin Daye. 

According to a report from the Cavaliers' official website, Daye was among four players released, bringing the total number of players on the roster to 16. 

Daye, who reached an agreement with the Cavaliers on Sept. 23, is a well-traveled player. The former first-round pick has played for Detroit, Memphis, Toronto, San Antonio and Atlanta over his nine NBA seasons. 

Even though he has been a bust based on where he was drafted in 2009, the 27-year-old does have value as a quality three-point shooter. He has hit 35.1 percent of his career attempts from beyond the arc. 

Unfortunately, Daye has proved to be a liability on defense, with negative defensive box plus-minus scores every year of his career. It takes a special offensive talent to get away with being below average on defense as consistently as the former Gonzaga star has been. 

Another problem for Daye is he came into a situation in Cleveland with the team in no need for another small forward. LeBron James, Richard Jefferson and James Jones play the same position, and there was no chance he could overtake Jefferson or Jones. 

The Cavaliers were smart to take a chance on Daye to see if he could add something to the roster that would allow them to keep him in the Developmental League in case of injury, but it didn't work out. 

He does have time to find a new home before the season starts, or at least get the chance to work out for teams and spend time in the D-League waiting for his next opportunity.

Stats via Basketball-Reference.com