CLEVELAND - The Cavaliers finally got Drew Gooden's autograph. Almost one month after he agreed to terms of a three-year, $23 million contract, Gooden signed the deal Monday, giving the club a power forward it believes can get it further into the playoffs.

The signing of Gooden's deal was delayed so he could get a physical, and so his agents could finalize details on the package.

"We are excited to move forward with Drew as an integral part of our team," Cavs general manager Danny Ferry said. "Re-signing him was a priority for us in the offseason and we certainly will be a better team with him."

Gooden blended in nicely into first-year coach Mike Brown's system last season. In 79 starts, he averaged 10.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in 27.5 minutes. He was the only NBA player to average at least 10 points and 6.5 rebounds in less than 28 minutes per game.

"We are confident he can continue to build a reputation as a defender and tenacious rebounder," Ferry said. "We made a good step forward last year as a team and we felt it was important to keep the core and build around it."

The Cavaliers made the playoffs for the first time since 1998 last season. They eliminated Washington in the first round before losing a seven-game series to the

Detroit Pistons.

During the playoffs, Gooden averaged 8.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in 13 starts. He scored a playoff career-high 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in Game 2 vs. the Wizards.

Gooden, who will turn 25 on Sept. 23, feels at home in Cleveland ¡ª his third stop since being drafted (fourth overall) by the

Memphis Grizzlies in 2002. He spent one season with Orlando before being acquired along with Anderson Varejao by the Cavaliers in 2004 for Tony Battie and two second-round draft picks.