Dallas-Mavs.com Forums - View Single Post

#1MavsFan · 08-21-2002, 06:00 PM

Cavs match T-Wolves' offer sheet for Davis

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have matched the six-year, $34 million offer Ricky Davis received last week from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Cavs had 15 days to think about whether they wanted to re-sign the 6-foot-7 guard after Minnesota made its offer last Friday. But after receiving the official contract Tuesday afternoon, Cavs general manager Jim Paxson quickly matched it.

"We felt it was important to send the right message to Ricky that we want to keep him,'' Paxson said Wednesday.

Davis' agent, Dan Fegan, had said his client would rather play with the Timberwolves and that the Cavaliers would be making a mistake by locking Davis into a long-term contract.

Paxson said he hadn't talked to Davis since matching the offer.

"They got an offer sheet. We chose to match it. We're moving forward,'' Paxson said. "If there are any issues, we'll overcome those and Ricky will be here and playing.''

With the 22-year-old Davis joining rookie guard DaJuan Wagner and forward Darius Miles -- who was acquired in the Andre Miller trade -- the Cavs should be bring considerable energy and fans to relatively quiet Gund Arena. The club also is counting on the trio to get Cleveland back to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1993.

"Keeping Ricky, we'll have a young group of versatile players that we can put in a number of different roles,'' Paxson said.

Davis, a restricted free agent, became a fan favorite during his first season with the Cavs, who acquired the high-flying, headband-wearing guard in a three-way trade last October with Miami and Toronto.

Davis averaged a career-high 11.7 points per game and was the only Cavalier to play in all 82 games. He spent much of the season coming off the bench but began to emerge late in the year, after coach John Lucas put him in the starting lineup.

He averaged 19.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in eight games as a starter. His play was superb in some of those games, with ferocious dunks and fearless drives to the baskets. He closed the season by scoring 20 or more points in seven of Cleveland's final 13 games.

Davis saved his best performance for a March 26 matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 35 points on 15-of-24 shooting in 42 minutes.

Davis was drafted in the first round (No. 21 overall) in 1998 by Charlotte after playing only his freshman year at Iowa. He spent two seasons with the Hornets before being traded to the Heat before the 2000-01 season.

08-21-2002, 06:00 PM	#3
#1MavsFan Golden Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,567	Cavs match T-Wolves' offer sheet for Davis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have matched the six-year, $34 million offer Ricky Davis received last week from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Cavs had 15 days to think about whether they wanted to re-sign the 6-foot-7 guard after Minnesota made its offer last Friday. But after receiving the official contract Tuesday afternoon, Cavs general manager Jim Paxson quickly matched it. "We felt it was important to send the right message to Ricky that we want to keep him,'' Paxson said Wednesday. Davis' agent, Dan Fegan, had said his client would rather play with the Timberwolves and that the Cavaliers would be making a mistake by locking Davis into a long-term contract. Paxson said he hadn't talked to Davis since matching the offer. "They got an offer sheet. We chose to match it. We're moving forward,'' Paxson said. "If there are any issues, we'll overcome those and Ricky will be here and playing.'' With the 22-year-old Davis joining rookie guard DaJuan Wagner and forward Darius Miles -- who was acquired in the Andre Miller trade -- the Cavs should be bring considerable energy and fans to relatively quiet Gund Arena. The club also is counting on the trio to get Cleveland back to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1993. "Keeping Ricky, we'll have a young group of versatile players that we can put in a number of different roles,'' Paxson said. Davis, a restricted free agent, became a fan favorite during his first season with the Cavs, who acquired the high-flying, headband-wearing guard in a three-way trade last October with Miami and Toronto. Davis averaged a career-high 11.7 points per game and was the only Cavalier to play in all 82 games. He spent much of the season coming off the bench but began to emerge late in the year, after coach John Lucas put him in the starting lineup. He averaged 19.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in eight games as a starter. His play was superb in some of those games, with ferocious dunks and fearless drives to the baskets. He closed the season by scoring 20 or more points in seven of Cleveland's final 13 games. Davis saved his best performance for a March 26 matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 35 points on 15-of-24 shooting in 42 minutes. Davis was drafted in the first round (No. 21 overall) in 1998 by Charlotte after playing only his freshman year at Iowa. He spent two seasons with the Hornets before being traded to the Heat before the 2000-01 season.