On Building Around An Icon

If there is one thing that this NBA season has taught us, it's that LeBron James is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. His jumping is much more explosive than most 6'8"-6'9" players, his speed is incredible for his size, his power is unparalleled for most Small Forwards, and he is a much better shooter, particularly from 3-point range, than when he came into the league. His game seems constantly evolving and improving, and it seems the sky is the limit for his abilities.

If there is one thing that the Cavaliers/Magic series has taught us, it's that the Cavaliers haven't surrounded LeBron with the correct talents. Or much talent. Even after all the roster changes since LeBron got there, he's still forced to do everything, for the most part, himself. Yes, at the end of the game you want the ball in the hands of the league's MVP... but it's the rest of the game where LeBron needs more help.
So what do I think will help LeBron? Let's take a look at the roster and find out:

Backcourt: The knock on the Cavs for LeBron's first few years was that they had no one who could hit an outside shot. They have more than answered that problem... with Mo Williams, Delonte West, Daniel Gibson, Pavlovic, and-to some extent-Wally Szczerbiak. The problem here is that all these players are the same--they are all spot-up three-point shooters. Williams may be the only one who can get his own shot... but that's really not the point. The point is that none of these players are POINT GUARDS. They have no true ball-handler/facilitator on the roster. They have shooting guards... who they give the ball to on occation. But LeBron needs someone who can really handle the ball so that he can post up or run off screens and get open shots. The Cavs have no one who can take the pressure of bringing the ball up the court from LeBron. Even Jordan had Pippen who could bring the ball up and facilitate the offense. Now I'm not saying that these players are bad... I've actually been impressed by West, particularly that he can post up smaller guards and not only get shots, but quality shots from the post. The point here is that LeBron needs someone who can take some of the pressure of constant ball-handling off of him. Someone in the Deron Williams/Chris Paul mold. You know who would be perfect? Either Alston or Jameer Nelson, depending on who the Magic decide to keep next year (how great would it be to reunite Nelson and West in the backcourt?).
Additionally, I would like to see the Cavs get a Bruce Bowen-like defensive specialist guard with some size who can guard players like Kobe or Melo so that LeBron doesn't have to for 4-quarters.

Forwards: As much crap as I give Anderson Varejao, he is the kind of player LeBron needs around him--high energy, tons of effort, rebounding, flopping, all that good stuff. However, Varejao is NOT the type of player you want STARTING for you. Off the bench? He's perfect... giving energy and good minutes. But he is NOT a STARTER. LeBron needs a PF who can get the ball down on the block and make things happen with his back to the basket. The Cavs NEED a post presence. I understand wanting to stay out of LeBron's way on his way to the basket... but imagine if LeBron had someone offensively talented enough on his team that people actually doubled someone who isn't him! I thought Joe Smith could have been this guy... but apparently there isn't a whole lot of gas left in that tank. I know they'll never get Gasol or Garnett or Duncan... but that is the kind of player LeBron needs to help him with some low-post scoring. How about trading for the Clipper's Al Thornton? He might actually be expendable in LA, especially since the Clips are about to get Blake "I want to see his parents, I hope they show them on the telecast, oh good they did" Griffin.

Center: LeBron doesn't need any scoring help here if he can get himself some scoring at the 4. So all James needs from this position is a defensive-minded, rebounding specialist. Kind of like-oh I don't know-Ben Wallace. It's unfortunate that Wallace's skills have deminished so much in the past few years... because he would be a perfect compliment to James on my revamped Cavs team. If they can get a younger version of Wallace, all the pieces would be in place.

It doesn't seem like a lot, but these changes will turn the Cavs from a very good team, into a dynasty. And, yes, they already have a lot of pieces in place... but I am talking about them NEEDING 3 starters. That IS kind of a lot, particularly since you've been trying to build around LeBron for 5 seasons. The more I think about it, the more patetic I think the Cavs roster moves have been... and they have failed LeBron to surround him with the right people. If LeBron decides to leave, I hope he can find a team that will make a better effort to get the right people in place to give him the championship(s) he deserves.