Baron Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 Reasons for Hope in 2012

In what could be the understatement of the year, there hasn't been a lot to like about the Cavs this year.

In the post-LeBron James era, the roster was exposed to show a lot of players with the same style of game. That worked when they were all playing supporting roles to the King. But with LeBron’s talents now on display in South Beach, the Cavs have struggled to win with a roster of role players.

The addition of Baron Davis won't change that.

However, this slideshow will give you the three reasons why this trade is still great news for a team, and a fanbase, in desperate need of something positive.

Reason No. 1: Dan Gilbert and Chris Grant Dealt from a Position of Strength

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 27: Majority owner Dan Gilbert of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media prior to playing the Boston Celtics in the Cavaliers 2010 home opner at Quicken Loans Arena on October 27, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expre

I know the Cavaliers are the punch line to most NBA jokes this year, but think about this.

A team with no leverage and the worst record in the NBA got another first-round pick without giving up its guaranteed top four lottery pick or its trade exception.

Make no mistake about it—this trade was not about renting Baron Davis for a couple of months. It was about getting that extra first-round pick.

More importantly, it was a deal the Cavaliers didn’t have to make. But they clearly knew what they wanted and made a deal with a team that looked a lot more desperate. Shocking.

In the past, it’s usually been the Cavs or the Indians who have allowed other teams to use leverage in a trade. Hopefully this is a sign of what we can expect from Dan Gilbert and Chris Grant.

Reason No. 2: Baron Davis = Mentor for J.J. Hickson

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 31: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat posts up J.J. Hickson #21 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during a game at American Airlines Arena on January 31, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by do

Baron Davis and Byron Scott didn’t get along in New Orleans. The cynic will say that their past friction ensures this will not end well in Cleveland.

However, Davis has reportedly done a 180 on his opinion of Scott. With J.J. Hickson, the Cavaliers have a young player who has had some, shall we say, growing pains in understanding what Scott expects from him and what his potential can be.

Davis knows what Scott expects and can help Hickson see why he should appreciate what he has.

Reason No. 3: Options for the Team, Excitement for the Fans

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CLEVELAND - MAY 20: Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers react in the stands during Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 20, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expre

With two first-round and two second-round picks, the Cavaliers are in position to generate a lot of interest from other NBA teams.

With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire and some sort of hard(er) cap looming, teams may be looking to dump salary and get younger. With four high picks, the Cavaliers would seem like a desirable trading partner.

The question will be, is Dan Gilbert looking to turn this around quickly?  Or will he want to get the best young players he can and build through the draft?

Either way, this team went from looking like it didn’t have a plan to a team that could be in a very enviable position when the new labor deal gets struck.