Delonte West Returns

Per Cleveland.com:

Point guard Delonte West returned to practice today after leaving the Cavaliers on Oct. 4 for personal reasons.

The team has not been more specific about why West left camp, other than to say he was gone. West was not expected to speak to the media today.

It’s always a bit intriguing when a team or player cites “personal reasons” for being absent; especially when the player will not talk to the media following his return.  After his not being present in the most recent preseason game, I had a few inquiries as to whether or not I thought Delonte was unhappy with his recently-signed contract.  Another was wondering if West was perhaps on the trading block now that we had his rights. 

Honestly, I think that West really had some issues that he simply needed to tend to prior to the season starting.  I would rather him be absent now than when the games truly count. 

Something else to consider is that West has a trade restriction on his current standing with the team does not allow him to be traded until December 15th, so the possibility of him being sent elsewhere would not even be considered until the season started.  Plus, I think that the Cavaliers would like West to be a part of the near future as can be seen by their club option for 2011-12.  Obviously, if things were to go awry by then, his expiring deal would make him that much more valuable to a team that would be able to use his defense and ability to handle both guard positions. 

But for now, let’s just take pride in the fact that West is back with the team and we will finally be able to see how he can play along side Mo Williams.

Delonte West returns to Cavs training camp [Cleveland.com]