Many observers had thought that a few teams -- Philadelphia, Orlando and maybe Toronto -- had leapfrogged the Cavs in the East.

With the addition of Williams, Boston might be the only team better than the Cavs in the East. Barring major injuries, the Cavs are capable of winning 50 to 55 games this season and earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

If anyone doubts the importance of seeding, refer back to the East semifinal playoff series with the Celtics. Had the Cavs had homecourt advantage in that series, they may have advanced past the Celtics.

The Cavs don't have the most talent in the conference, but they have the top player in All-Star forward LeBron James. His play in the Olympics solidifies what many in Cleveland have thought for quite some time: He's the best player in the world.

And, while the Cavs are at it, isn't it about time they won the Central Division crown? Since their inception in 1970, the Cavs have exactly one division title to their credit -- in 1975-76, the Miracle of Richfield season.

Detroit might be ripe for the picking. The Pistons are trying to get their youngsters ready for prime time, and there's a bit of a transition going on there. The talented group of veterans -- Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess -- are beginning to show their age.

They've probably got another run in them, but new coach Michael Curry knows it's time to integrate young players like guard Rodney Stuckey and forward Amir Johnson into the mix. As an aside, when Stuckey does fully arrive, he'll be one of the best guards in the NBA.

There is no question the Sixers have improved themselves by signing forward/center Elton Brand. Toronto has also taken a step forward by acquiring Jermaine O'Neal from Indiana. But the Cavs have something neither team has: James. He's the great equalizer in the East.

This whole premise for the Cavs, however, is based on them signing point guard Delonte West and power forward Darnell Jackson. West is a restricted free agent and Jackson was a second-round pick from Kansas in the June draft.

The addition of Williams might not be the final piece of the championship puzzle. That might come at the trade deadline when Cavs general manager Danny Ferry parlays a few expiring contracts into another major talent. It's hard to predict right now who that will be, but the Cavs are poised to make that last deal.

Wally Szczerbiak's $13 million contract might be the one Ferry uses to make this team complete. What if Szczerbiak plays so well in the beginning of the season that they feel they can't do without him? That would make an interesting scenario.

The Cavs are now deep at almost every position, even though there might be a hole at power forward after Joe Smith was traded to Oklahoma City.