Cavs won’t use option on Brown

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shannon Brown missed all five shots, made two turnovers and didn’t score in six minutes of Cleveland’s 92-74 season-opening loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

After the game, he got swatted — by the Cavaliers.

The club decided not to pick up its contract option for 2008-09 on Brown, a former first-round draft pick from Michigan State whose rookie season was slowed by injuries. The Cavs had until midnight to exercise the guard’s $1.1 million salary for next season.

It was assumed the club would extend Brown’s deal, but general manager Danny Ferry opted otherwise.

“I really don’t know how disappointed I am,” Brown said after practice Thursday. “I really don’t know what the future will bring. All I can do right now is play for now and see what happens.”

Brown played in just 23 games last season because of a serious leg injury. The 6-foot-4 slasher figured to get more playing time this season, but the Cavs’ signing of Sasha Pavlovic to a three-year contract and addition of rookie Demetris Nichols may have altered plans for Brown.

“We really like Shannon,” Ferry said. “At this point, we haven’t used him a whole lot. We figured this was the right decision for now and we can still readdress it at the end of this year.”

Brown will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The Cavaliers did pick up the $1.7 million contract of forward Cedric Simmons for next season. Simmons was acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets in September.

Ferry reported no change in talks with restricted free agent forward Anderson Varejao, who is also holding out. Varejao is seeking a deal worth $9 million per season.