MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: F LeBron James wasn't just the team's MVP, he won the league's highest honor as well. He played a career-high 81 games and shot career bests from the field (48.9 percent) and free throw line (78 percent). He averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks. He was the only player to average at least 28 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists this season. He also became just the second player in NBA history (Oscar Robertson was the other) to post five consecutive seasons of at least 27 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists.
James led the team in total points (2,304), rebounds (613), assists (587), steals (137) and blocks (93) to become just the fourth player since steals and blocks became official stats in 1973-74 to accomplish the feat. The others were Minnesota's Kevin Garnett in 2002, Chicago's Scottie Pippen in 1994 and Boston's Dave Cowens in 1977. MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: After a magnificent regular season, G Mo Williams' postseason run was drab. He averaged 16.3 points and 4.1 assists in 14 postseason games but shot just 40.8 percent from the field. All-Star players step it up in the postseason, especially the Eastern Conference final. He was rather ordinary.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: The team's major free agent will be F-C Anderson Varejao, who is expected to opt out of his deal by June 30 and become unrestricted. One source said he could eventually settle for a four-year, $32 million deal. The Cavs want him back, and he eventually could be the starting center.
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas owns a player option on his contract for next season. He said he would be back, possibly for his final season in Cleveland. The Cavs can extend his contract in September but aren't expected to do so.
F-C Joe Smith, C Lorenzen Wright and G-F Wally Szczerbiak are unrestricted. Smith might be re-signed for the league minimum. Szczerbiak wants to come back, but the Cavs are expected to upgrade that position. F-C Darnell Jackson, G Tarence Kinsey and F Jawad Williams have contracts for next year, but no salary protection.
PLAYER NEWS:
--F LeBron James is eligible for a contract extension on July 18 -- the three-year anniversary of his last deal. The extension can be from one year to four years. He's not expected to accept an extension at this time. He'll likely opt out of his deal after the 2009-10 season and become unrestricted. Everyone seems to think he'll re-sign with the Cavs.
--G Delonte West was the Cavs' second-best player in the postseason for the second consecutive year. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds. He also shot 46.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc. He defended the opposition's top offensive threat -- Rip Hamilton, Joe Johnson and 6-10 Hedo Turkoglu. "I'll guard Shaq if they ask me to," West said.
--F LeBron James zoomed to third best all-time in career postseason scoring average after averaging 35 points in 14 playoff games this year. His 29.4 career mark trails only Michael Jordan (33.4) and Allen Iverson (29.7).
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F-C Ben Wallace (both legs) will take some time off and then try to go through his normal routine. He had excruciating pain after coming back from a broken leg and sprained patella tendon. He went through shockwave therapy treatments. If he can't rebound from his injuries and pain, he'll likely announce his retirement.
--F-C J.J. Hickson (back) was inactive since April 8 with a stress reaction in his back. He vows to be ready to play on the Cavs' summer league team in Las Vegas.
--F LeBron James (benign growth removed from jaw) underwent a five-hour procedure June 2. He has had the growth for several months but waited until the Cavs' season was over before having it removed.
