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Baron Davis is looking forward to mentoring Kyrie Irving. Insert joke here.

Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: Baron Davis #85 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors at The Quicken Loans Arena on March 8, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

David Liam Kyle

Perhaps I’m just feeling optimistic today. Maybe I’m just tired of being negative about everything in the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is the lockout. But I want to believe that there’s something Cavaliers fans can actually look forward to about Baron Davis, and not just the day his contract expires.

Consider this quote from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer regarding Davis talking about Kyrie Irving, the No.1 overall pick point guard who will be taking Davis’ job.

"[Im] really looking forward to playing with, and mentoring, Kyrie,” said Davis in an e-mail. “Hes so talented, creative, smart, has so much potential and could become a great cornerstone of the Cavaliers franchise for many years to come. Ive been talking to him a lot this summer about NBA life, and in Cleveland, hes going to learn so much from coach [Byron] Scott, who will be a great mentor as well.”

via Kyrie Irving and Baron Davis in a budding friendship | cleveland.com.

Is there anything more you would want to hear from Davis? No talk of how he’s the starter, no jabs at Byron Scott. No talk about how it’s going to take him some time. Just support and love for the young point guard. And just when I was ready to make a series of jokes about Davis mentoring him on doughnuts and contested 40-footers with 15 seconds left on the clock, I remembered something.

Davis has constantly defeated expectations, good and bad. A franchise cornerstone for the Hornets? Became a malcontent inefficient drain. Castoff in Golden State? Led them to their biggest playoff win in decades and was brilliant under Don Nelson. Next great star for the Clippers, going to lead them back to the playoffs? Wah-wah.

So in Cleveland he’s expected to have little or no value, to just be something to deal with. But Davis is a smart character who as his career has gone on has gained some wisdom. He doesn’t create drama, he just plays point guard and honestly, sometimes does it well enough. He’s not the worst player in the league, and he does have somethings he can teach Irving.

Maybe, just maybe, Baron Davis is going to confound expectations again and be a positive influence on the Cavs. If it doesn’t work out that way, then that’s fine, he wasn’t expected to. But all indications are that Davis might wind up being a good thing for the Cavs, and not just because they landed Irving because of it.

I want to believe!