The oldest theory on NBA championship constitution holds that a potent presence is needed in the post. The Los Angeles Lakers, for instance, began thinking about another title as soon as they stole Pau Gasol from Memphis at the trade deadline last year. Orlando certainly has a daunting low-post scorer in Dwight Howard, the league's Defensive Player of the Year, who had 40 points and 14 rebounds in the clincher Saturday night. But what makes Orlando interesting is it is an outside-in team -- Howard is used as a high screener as much as a low-post scorer -- with the aim of spreading the floor and generating open three-point shots.

This European style has never gained much traction in the NBA, where offenses run inside-out and physical play in the paint has always been seen as the most necessary ingredient. Yet, here is the Magic, with three or four players -- including the power forward -- spotting up outside. Turkoglu, a Bird-like point forward, runs the scheme using high pick-and-rolls. He and his mates sense double-teams and quickly exploit them. And they can all pass, catch and shoot. Not since the Chicago Bulls' triangle offense has traditional thinking been so usurped -- and not since then has the ball moved so beautifully in the halfcourt.

The Cavs were built for June 2009, when they were to take on the Lakers for the championship. The LeBron James-Kobe Bryant clash was supposed to commence this week. The argument over who is the best player in the game would finally be settled. ABC was counting on it.

Instead, the Magic spread the floor, and the Cavs had no chance. The Cavs' terrific defense was rendered ordinary. They had no solution for the three-point shooters. No one could handle Howard in the post. Mo Williams, Cleveland's critical second scorer, came and went. James was his usual extraordinary self, but his supporting cast provided only intermittent help. And so the Cavs' reign as the East's superpower was over before it began.

One long-held belief is that James, in his desire to win a title, will next year sign a free-agent contract with the New York Knicks, who have cleared cap space to get him and a supporting cast. For what it's worth, a rumor rumbling around Cleveland has James ceding the East to the youthful Magic and looking West for his next contract. Unless the Cavs win it all next year, these rumors will continue to effervesce.

General manager Danny Ferry has done a good job getting the Cavaliers to this point. With James, Williams and Delonte West, there is at least the core of a championship team in place. The question is the next move.

Joe Smith and Wally Szczerbiak will be free agents after the playoffs. Anderson Varejao is expected to opt out of the last year of his contract. Zydrunas Ilgauskas can get out of his deal, but said he doesn't plan to do that. Ben Wallace said yesterday that he might retire.

Ferry might be able to clear a swath of cap space.

The most glaring needs are at power forward and center. Potentially available free agents include Rasheed Wallace, Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion and Carlos Boozer. And the rumor is that Chris Bosh is on the trading block because Toronto believes he will be lost to free agency in 2010.

I would keep Varejao, and perhaps Ilgauskas, to come off the bench. As for the available free agents, there are some potent players available -- but each has a flaw, be it a questionable attitude or dubious durability.

Bosh is intriguing, and might be worth the risk of acquiring with one year remaining on his contract. But what can the Cavs offer?

Ferry is facing another critical summer. James still hangs in the balance.

Michael Arace is a sports reporter for The Dispatch.

marace@dispatch.com