The Curious Case of the Cleveland Cavaliers

July 8th 2010: LeBron James' infamous "Decision" to take his talents to South Beach leaves the entire organisation, nay the entire City, in a state of shock.

2010-2011 season: Cleveland finish with the second worst record in the league, edging out the 17-65 Timberwolves with a 19-63 record. The season also included the longest losing streak in the NBA's history, and the joint-longest in any of the "Big 4" sports (NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB), with a 26-game losing run beginning on Decmber 20th and ending with an overtime victory against Los Angeles Clippers on February 11th.

The drop in win percentage from 2009-10 season was the largest in NBA history since the merger.

Cleveland also traded Mo Williams to LA Clippers for Baron Davis and an unprotected first round draft pick.

April 2011: Cavs win the NBA Draft lottery through LA Clippers' pick, and also get 4th pick through their own.

June 2011: Cavs select former Duke University Point Guard Kyrie Irving as the Number 1 draft pick, and also surprise a few faces by selecting Power Forward Tristan Thompson with the 4th pick.

2011-2012 season: Cavs improve slightly from the previous season, finishing 21-45 in a lockout-effected season. Kyrie Irving takes the league by storm, averaging 18.5 points per game, including game winners against OKC Thunder and Boston Celtics, and shoots .469% from the field. Safe to say he strolled his way to the Rookie of the Year crown.

But this was expected as Varejao was injured after 20 games, and Cavs had no backup C, eventually playing Thompson there. The serious lack of depth in this Cavs side was brought to light here.

June 2012: Cavs get 4th pick in the draft, and select a much-needed Shooting Guard in Dion Waiters. Cavs also trade 3 picks to Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Center Tyler Zeller.

Now we have a basic timeline of the post-LeBron era, I can go ahead and review this season so far.

In terms of transactions pre-season, Cavs were quite active. Veteran forward Antawn Jamison left as a free agent and joined a new-look Los Angeles Lakers. Manny Harris was waived.
Cavs went ahead an re-signed forwards Luke Harangody and Alonzo Gee, and also signed guards CJ Miles and Jeremy Pargo, and forward Jon Leuer, as free agents.

So by the start of the season, Cavs had put together a good, young starting line up (age in brackets):
PG - Irving (20)
SG - Waiters (20)

SF - Gee (25)

PF - Thompson (21)

C - Varejao (29)

2012-13 season so far: Cavs opened with a convincing win over Wizards, Varejao standing out with 23 rebounds, 9 assists and 9 points. This gave Cavs the best record in the NBA for about an hour. However things soon unravelled. 

Cavs went just 3-16 in November, but Thompson and Varejao dominating the boards was enouraging. They continued to do that throughout December as well, but still Cavs went just 3-13.

January was better. Cavs went 6-8, but disaster struck when it was announced Varejao, averaging 14.4 rebounds per game, had a blood clot in his lung and would be out for the rest of the season. Coach Scott quickly announced Tyler Zeller would be his replacement. Zeller fitted in well, and in his first 3 starts, Cavs went 3-0.

January 22nd, just one day after Varejao was officially out for the season, and Cavs pulled off an outstanding trade, giving Memphis Grizzlies Jon Leuer in exchange for Wayne Ellington, Marreese Speights, Josh Selby and a future draft pick.

Ellington and Speights fit in immediately, and Cavs beat Thunder to kick off another 3 game winning streak. Cavs were 16-37 at the all star break, and 11-12 in 2013. Cavs are 3-1 since then, giving them an 19-38 record.

With 25 games left, Cavs' realistic aim would probably be to win approximately half of them and get to around 28-54.

So despite having an all-star guard in Irving, an almost "walking double-double" in Thompson and an efficient shooter in Gee, Cavs are still struggling. It's no secret that the signings of Ellington and Speights, who despite being in their early-20s, add some experience to a side that very much needs some.

It's a very odd scenario. The team should be performing better, and on paper would beat a lot of teams they've lost to. But a game was never played on paper. Hopefully another experienced addition in summer, along with a high draft pick (despite what is looking like being an awful draft) will give them that firepower they need to get back into the playoffs.

8th seed, maybe even 6th with it being the East, is definitely within the sights of this young team next season, and barring injuries, I think everyone involved in the organisation, professionally or as a fan, would feel disappointed if they weren't playing in the post-season in 2014.