MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: F LeBron James became the league's leading scorer at 30 points per game. He also averaged 7.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.8 steals. He shot 48.4 percent from the field and a disappointing 71.2 percent from the foul line and 31.5 from the 3-point line. The Cavs were 0-7 in games he missed or didn't finish. James finished fourth in the voting for the league's MVP award, but he's by far the Cavs' most valuable.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: G Larry Hughes was traded to Chicago on Feb. 21, but his legacy remains. He was a letdown ever since he was signed as a free agent. He seemed like a different player while running the Wizards' fastbreak in Washington. He just wasn't the right fit with LeBron James in Cleveland. He couldn't even reach 40 percent shooting from the floor this season in 40 games with the Cavs and averaged 12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Hughes was such a huge disappointment, in fact, the Cavs had to take back an even bigger contract (Ben Wallace's) to get rid of him. BIGGEST NEEDS: The Cavs need to add another big man to the roster, either in the draft, free agency or via trade. Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Joe Smith are all well past 30 years old. Their fourth big, Anderson Varejao, could opt out of his contract after the 2008-09 season.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Cavs will probably have some problems signing point guards Delonte West and Daniel Gibson, both restricted free agents. They won't come cheap. Heck, Gibson's agent could ask for the full mid-level. West could ask for $3 million or $4 million a season.
The only other free agent is unrestricted free agent Devin Brown. After the amount of time he played in the playoffs -- next to none -- he might not want to come back. But that's something you take care of in September.
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Daniel Gibson had bone spurs and loose cartilage removed from his left ankle during arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday in Houston. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound Gibson is expected to start rehabilitation next week and should be ready for training camp. The surgery was done promptly so that he had plenty of time to be ready for the preseason. Gibson wasn't expected to play in summer league. He missed 22 games this season, including 17 when he suffered a high ankle sprain against Indiana. He averaged 10.4 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 58 games this season. He ranked fifth in the NBA in three-point percentage (44.0).
--F/C Anderson Varejao has issues with his ankle and knee and has been advised not to play for the Brazil National team in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The problem is he still has lingering effects from a Jan. 27 left ankle sprain (in the Lakers game). Also, he bumped knees with a Boston player in the Eastern Conference semifinals and suffered a right quad contusion. The ankle is still visibly swollen and he doesn't have a full range of motion. The Cavs' team doctor wants Varejao to skip the qualifying tournament and to rehab his ankle and knee. The Cavs also want him to return to Cleveland for a couple weeks in the summer to have his injuries assessed.
--After the Feb. 21 trade that brought F/C Ben Wallace to the Cavs, F/C Anderson Varejao's role diminished. There's a bit of duplication between the two players. That's why it wouldn't be a shock if one of them were traded. Wallace would be next to impossible to trade. He's past his prime and has an astronomical $28 million left on the final two years on his contract. That's why Varejao could be sent packing. His plan is to opt out after the 2008-09 season. Maybe the Cavs think they should get something for him now.
--The Erie (Pa.) BayHawks will be the Cavs' and 76ers' affiliate in the National Basketball Development League. They had a press conference on Wednesday to announce they're hiring ex-LSU and Indiana University assistant John Treloar as their head coach. The Cavs' first-round pick, No. 19 overall, could spend time in Erie this season.
