The Cavaliers Need to Get Better -- But How?

The postmortems will now commence on the Cavaliers and run all the way until next fall. This much is certain: Nobody knows what will happen.

It's always that way. Who saw the "big trade" coming before it was made in February? Fans and the media didn't, and, once it occurred, they didn't know whether to get excited or scratch their heads in bewilderment. Still don't. (Personally, there are days I really miss Drew Gooden, who, lest we forget, was the Cavs' second option on offense. But, on we go. )

So the Cavs enter the offseason coming off a disappointing playoff loss. But ask yourself: Were you surprised that their run ended earlier this year? Other than LeBron, and maybe Ilgauskas, this is a collection of NBA journeymen, role players who are asked to do more than just play a role.

The teams in the conference finals are just that -- teams, collections of talented players who make contributions across the board. That includes the Lakers, since the addition of Pau Gasol. As important as he was in providing support to Kobe Bryant, he also made Lamar Odom their third option on offense. Not bad.

And the Spurs? When you've got Manu Ginobili as your sixth man, you can play with anybody. (The Cavs had to thrust 32-year-old Joe Smith into that role for the final games of the Celtics series.)

Delonte West and Daniel Gibson are restricted free agents. The Cavs should keep West. They have no better option at the point. He put up decent, if not spectacular, numbers (about 10 points, 4.5 assists) during the regular season and the playoffs. He was given an opportunity and did more with it than anyone else has in the past couple of years. Whether he's a pure NBA point guard or not isn't the issue. Right now he's the best Cleveland has.

The argument for Gibson is that he's a solid shooter, and in Cleveland's system -- where LeBron handles the ball as often as does the point guard -- you need a shooter as much as you do a ballhandler at the point.

Devin Brown is an unrestricted free agent. He's bounced around in his career, yet at one point this season appeared to have solidified his place with the Cavs. He started and played well much of the year -- then rode the pine throughout the Boston series. How that happens, I don't know. This is a guy, remember, who averaged 11.6 points and four rebounds a game last year for New Orleans. What, Mike Brown had better options?

The Cavaliers remain "LeBron James and everyone else," and that's no formula for a championship. Ilgauskas is still a serviceable center, although he's not getting any younger. But there's no Scottie Pippen-like player, nobody who can take over a game if the defense keys on James.

The Lakers of the '70s and '80s weren't all about Magic. They were loaded, with players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Jamal Wilkes and Michael Cooper. The same with the Celtics of that era. It wasn't just Bird. McHale, Parish, Ainge -- they were stacked as well.

The Cavaliers fall woefully short by comparison, and need to do something to beef up their lineup -- and soon. But they're hindered by the salary cap and will have to exercise some creativity in order to pull off a trade that could bring a big name to town. LeBron has two years left on his contract, and no doubt feels comfortable playing so close to home in Cleveland. Yet he knows that great players are measured not only by personal achievements, but by championships. It's not likely he'll stand still for too many more missed opportunities.