"He has been part of the Cavaliers' organization for less than four months, but Baron Davis is already emerging as a vocal leader of the franchise. Antawn Jamison was the lone voice in the locker room for most of last season, but Davis proved again last week that Jamison finally has some company.

Davis and Jamison were the veterans who came up with the idea of bringing the players together to work out during an NBA lockout this summer. Davis reiterated last week he is expecting everyone to make a legitimate effort to get there.

''It'll show a commitment, who's committed to this team for next year,'' he said.

The Cavs are following the lead of NFL teams, including the Browns, who have held similar workouts led by the quarterbacks

during the football lockout.

Jamison and Davis were the first Cavs to talk about working out as a team this summer, either near Jamison's home in North Carolina or with Davis out west. The workouts initially seemed geared toward the younger players on the roster, but Davis opened the invitation to the entire team last week.

''It's a total secret,'' Davis joked. ''We're not telling you anything about it. We won't tell you after we do it, either.''

Davis says he's returning to Cleveland every couple of weeks to work out at the facility. He attended an Indians game last week and said his knee and back are both feeling great.

He said all the right things about the possibility of the Cavs drafting Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and genuinely appears to enjoy the role the team has given him.

They were straight with him when they acquired him, telling him they didn't care about his past reputation, but that they expected him to be in shape and motivated.

To this point, he has responded.

Davis has embraced the fresh start and believes he has plenty of knowledge and experience to pass on to younger players - such as Irving.

If and when the Cavs draft Irving, the discussion among fans over who starts will begin immediately. Cavs coach Byron Scott, though, said during the season that Davis was his starting point guard next season regardless of whom the Cavs draft.

There is always the possibility Davis and Irving could play together at times during the season, too. But Davis is ready to groom the Cavs' point guard of the future and doesn't feel threatened by the idea of it."