Terry Pluto of the beacon Journal reports that Cavaliers GM Jim Paxon has been able to bring in some young, exciting players into town and has given his floundering franchise a sense of direction.

The big three are Darius Miles, Dajuan Wagner and Ricky Davis. Wagner and Miles are signed for the upcoming season; Davis is not. Davis is a lanky, 6-foot-7 shooting guard/small forward who averaged 12 points last season, In eight games as a starter, he averaged 19 points. Along with an above-the-rim high-wire act, Davis has a solid middle-range jumper and shot 79 percent from the foul line. He's more than just a dunker.

Davis is a restricted free agent and the Minnesota Timberwolves are interested in signing him. The Cavaliers have the right to match any offer for Davis and intend to do so unless it?s a totally outrageous deal. Keeping Davis is a big part of what they'd like to become, what Paxson calls ``a young, athletic, exciting team.''

Last season, Andre Miller was the Cavs best player, but Ricky Davis seemed to inspire the fans. He played hard. He played slightly out of control, and he played with joy. Keeping Davis is crucial, especially after some fans perceive the team as being cheap because it wouldn't give into Miller's demands for a maximum contract.