Clippers training camp update: Baron Davis sits out

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Now it all makes sense …

One of the reasons the Clippers got out in front on the Baron Davis fitness issue became obvious on Tuesday during the opening day of training camp.

New coach Vinny Del Negro opted to sit out Davis in the morning session. And Davis said afterward that he is dealing with a couple of nagging injuries, namely some swelling in his knee and a strained calf.

And no, those two things did not occur on Media Day.

“It was just happening during training,” Davis said. “I think I pushed myself a little too hard. Sometimes you can overwork. I was doing a lot -- my body is not a young body. When I do go overboard, then I have a little swelling.’

Said Del Negro, who also put limitations on Brian Cook, Craig Smith and Randy Foye: “I sat [Davis] down. I want him to feel better. It’s just a process every day we’ll build on, not only with Baron, but with everybody. It’s a team and there’s certain standards, in terms of being in shape that we have to hold guys to. And I believe strongly in that stuff and overall the guys have been doing a good job of it.”

Davis thought he was only about three or four pounds away from the desired weight. Del Negro said there was not a set plan as to when Davis will be able to participate in all activities.

‘The old cliché: take it day to day. Let’s see how he feels, how the other guys feel,’ Del Negro said. ‘I might back a couple of guys off a little bit that are coming back from surgeries. I’ll monitor that every day. … I don’t think there’s a scenario that’s going to be perfect because things change so often. I don’t want to tell you something that’s not accurate.”

--Lisa Dillman