Life without LeBron will pose plenty of challenges for Cleveland Cavaliers

Friday, July 09, 2010, 12:59 AM

John Kuntz

The Plain Dealer

With LeBron James' departure, Mo Williams becomes the most prolific scorer on the Cavaliers, although the team has explored some trade talks with other NBA teams about the veteran guard.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James is no longer a Cavalier, but there will still be 82 NBA games played next season.

Like many of their fans, the Cavs were in a state of shock after James announced he was going to sign with the Miami Heat. As recently as last weekend, the team felt positive that James would re-sign and they could make some adjustments and contend for a championship again next season.

But even though it is a massive blow, losing a two-time Most Valuable Player in his prime, the team did prepare for this contingency. Team owner Dan Gilbert is likely to continue his willingness to spend on payroll and keep the team competitive.

No one will pick the Cavs to contend for the title with Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao and J.J. Hickson. But with some additions, the team does feel it can compete for a sixth consecutive playoff season.

While there is still a chance that the Cavs could do a sign-and-trade with the Heat for James to get back future draft picks, it is unlikely they would take part in helping James go to another team. It is a virtual certainty that the Cavs would not get any players in return, which means they face the reality of losing James for nothing.

The other reality is that the majority of the available top free agents have come to terms with other teams while the Cavs waited on James' decision. Thursday, the first day teams could sign free agents, saw a flurry of activity as the Cavs had to wait on the sidelines.

In addition, without James the Cavs are not going to be an attractive free-agent destination.

The team does have some things going for it. One is that for the first time since 2005, the Cavs will have salary cap space. That is the good news; the bad news is it isn't a large amount.

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Without James, for whom the Cavs were saving $16.6 million with their maximum contract offer, they are about $9 million under the salary cap. If they choose to release Delonte West before Aug. 3, they could clear another $4 million.

To get all of that space the team would have to renounce the rights to all their free agents including Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Wally Szczerbiak (a carryover from last year).

Using that cap space on free agents, however, may not be the heart of the team's plans. There are several different ways to use space and it can be valuable in acquiring players in trades. That is the route the team is expected to go to improve, part of its after-James plan.

In recent weeks, General Manager Chris Grant has been making calls to check into deals whether James re-signed or not. Most centered around West's contract, which will be valuable in cost-cutting trades. The Cavs have also tested the market for point guard Williams.

After not having first-round picks in three of the last six drafts and no lottery pick since 2004, the Cavs may be looking for trades that bring additional first-round picks. They also may look to sign some of the draft picks they have playing overseas, especially '09 first-round pick Christian Eyenga and '08 second-round pick Sasha Kaun.

Unlike in '03, when the Cavs won James' rights in the draft lottery, there is likely no magic bullet on the horizon. But there are options to improve what James left the Cavs with.