lebronjamesisgreatbutneedshelp

He chose his words carefully in the post-game presser last night in Boston: “What we have is very good, but we know we need to get better. Teams around us continue to get better (he rattled off the Celtics, Lakers, Hornets and Magic).” If Cavs brass wasn’t listening, and doesn’t take heed in the offseason, there’s absolutely no reason LeBron shouldn’t walk when he gets a chance in 2010.

We’ve been over this a dozen times, and at the risk of getting it started again: LeBron’s the best player in the league. His combination of skill, size (6-foot-8, 245 pounds), strength and speed is unparalleled in the NBA – the only other basketball player we can think of with a similar makeup was Magic Johnson, the 6-9 point guard. But watching LeBron’s supporting cast yesterday was just embarrassing. We challenge anyone to find a Cavs starter who would start on the following teams: Lakers, Celtics, Magic, Pistons, Jazz and Suns. (A case could be made for Z over Perkins and McDyess, we suppose.) So what can the Cavs do to improve the team?

* 2008 Free Agents: Looking at this list, there are a few players who could opt-out and test the market: Elton Brand of the Clippers, Jermaine O’Neal of the Pacers, and Shawn Marion of the Heat. Problem is, all of them are making serious bank this season, and what type of guys misses out on a $15 million salary for one season to sign for less? Not to mention Brand is coming off an injury, and O’Neal has struggled to stay healthy the last few seasons.

* Josh Smith is a restricted free agent and do you really think the Hawks will let this budding star go?

* Antwan Jamison is going to be 32. He’d be an upgrade over Wally from the perimeter, that’s for sure, but he’s an offense-only type of player, plus a bit of a tweener. Has the guy ever won anything?

* Chris Wilcox. You know we love him, and he’s in the final year of his contract in Seattle. If the Sonics land the No. 1 pick, and they want Michael Beasley, Wilcox quickly becomes expendable, right?

* Zach Randolph? Everyone thinks the Knicks will shake things up under D’Antoni; but would they unload their best and only low-post presence?

* The 2008 Draft. With the 19th pick, you’d have to think the Cavs would either take a chance on a large, defensive presence since Joe Smith, Ben Wallace and Z are all over 30 and on the slide down, or somebody who can score immediately, and not pull a Jason Kapono (which is to come in, do jack shit for a year, and then find your jumper in Miami): Darrell Arthur of Kansas looks like a pretty polished inside scorer, but he might be a lottery pick; what about JaVale McGee of Nevada, an athletic 7-footer?; we love Brandon Rush in a Scottie Pippen-type role (minus the defense), and there’s always Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis, who looked awful good against Rush head-to-head in the Final Four. A sleeper? USC’s Davon Jefferson is a nasty player who is still somewhat raw, but teeming with potential. But will any of these guys help the Cavs win a title next year? LeBron turns 24 in Decemeber, which would still give him plenty of time to match Jordan’s six. And yes, we think that’s entirely possible.