2006-2007 Finish: 51-31

What went well

GM Alejandro, a longstanding member of the NLL community, finally saw his vision came to fruition as the Cleveland Cavs clinced the Central Division. Rather than splash out each season with a blockbuster trade (more on this later), GM Alejandro cultivated a group of young players and raised them in-house to create the nucleus of the Cavs team we see today. In fact, the Cavs went the entire last season without a trade at all.

Alejandro didn't bring in any new blood either. Instead Mike Bibby, Kirk Hinrich and Monta Ellis have learned to play off one another so well that the Cavs dominated their division, finishing six games ahead of the second place Chicago Bulls.

Even now as the prospects mature into stars, the Cavs still have the third youngest team in the league (behind New York and Denver). Players like Trevor Ariza, Al Jefferson and Zaza Pachulia are rife with talent. The team also isn't much over the salary cap, though that is about to change as Hinrich and Chris Kaman are hitting paydirt.

The Cavs are an up-and-coming team still in this league, one that will stay strong if GM Alejandro continues his minor-tinkering-only approach. They are one of the most underrated teams in the league and as players like Hinrich and Ellis breakout, so will the Cleveland Cavaliers.

What didn't

For the second year in the year, the Cavaliers bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. Paired with division rivals Chicago, many expected a blood and guts series but were given a shallow performance as the Bulls rolled in six. Andrei Kirilenko, the team's highest paid player, vanished this season. Injuries marred some of the key reserve men on the bench (Ariza, Marquis Daniels). Maybe if the Bulls went further in the playoffs the early exit wouldn't be so bitter for the Buckeye State fans. But the Bulls were erased in four games by Philadelphia, leaving Cavs fans to question the team's tenacity and desire to win.

Stars

- Kirk Hinrich, PG-

Hinrich completed his best season yet as the guard led the team to the division championship. Averaging 22.3 points per game and 7 assists, Hinrich was elected to the All-Star game. He is just 26 years old and GM Alejandro can expect a career year out of him next season. Though he runs the floor well with Bibby, there is the problem that both of these players are natural point guards. With Hinrich on the way up and Bibby having reached his skill set plateau, Hinrich should pull ahead as the true face of the Cavs.

- Mike Bibby G –

But Bibby also had a career season, topping Hinrich with 23.5 points per game. Accostumed to running the point, Bibby transitioned into a pure scoring machine, as he hit 45% of his shots and knocked down 41% of his threes. It is possible that Bibby is the odd man out in Cleveland next season. The team has acquired Manu Ginobili and with the emergence of Ellis, Bibby's big contract may look appealing elsewhere. But Bibby is a fan favorite, logging five years in Cleveland and he shows no signs of slowing down.

- Monta Ellis, SF –

Ellis won the NLL's Sixth Man Award in just his second season in the league. Drafted in the second round in 2005, Ellis seemed like just an afterthought, but he evolved into a dunking machine that is a constant threat to the steal the ball. Drafted right out of high school, Ellis wasn't expectedd to contribute and has emerged from basically nowhere as the feel-good story of the year. Cleveland will continue to enjoy his bargan-basement lightning quick play for at least one more season.

Goats

- Andrei Kirilenko, F –

When the Cavaliers traded the first selection in the 2004 draft (later to become Emeka Okafor) for Kirilenko, many in Cleveland rejoiced the coming of a true star. But Kirilenko barely played in his first season in Cleveland, did well in his second and then totally vanished in his third. Are 7 points per game and 9.7 rebounds worth $13,709,375? Instead of a power forward, the Cavs are now stuck with a salary problem. There is hope that AK-47 will bounce back next season, but with the dollars pouring into Bibby, Kaman and Hinrich, Kirilenko will need to play harder.

- Etan Thomas, C/F –

He may be gone now, but Thomas provided very little but headaches in his three seasons with Cavs. Tapping out after half the games each season, Thomas was nothing but trouble in the clubhouse and a liability on the court. In fact, he barely averaged 3 points and rebounds in his final 48 games in Cleveland. A former #12 pick, the towering Thomas is now back on the Wizards, the team for which he played his first two seasons. Because he is big and he has some skills, Thomas will play in the league again next season, but many in Cleveland will want to forget he even played there.

Looking to the future

The Cavaliers made an uncharacteristicly big move right before the summer vacation, sending Thomas and project Andrew Bynum to the Detroit Pistons for Emanuel Ginobili. Though a swingman is the last thing the Cavs need (look at the bench, that's about all there is), the Insider suspects that the GM's Argentinian background motivated the deal. What Cleveland did get was another explosive scorer and more capital to make an even bigger deal when next season begins.

In the draft, the Cavaliers selected UCLA junior Arron Afflalo. Another shooter, it is unclear how Afflalo will fit onto the Cavaliers squad. Selected in the second round was Derrick Byars, a Vanderbilt senior that many think was a steal in the draft. A three-point specialist, Byars once again provides the Cavs a small forward, the position they need the least. Also selected was Taurean Green. This sophomore from Florida has a good chance of making the team because he plays point guard but that aspect of his game needs the most work.

We can probably expect some big changes in Cleveland before next season starts. There is a logjam at the small forward/shooting guard slot with Ellis, Bibby, Ginobili, Ariza, Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson, the rookies and Carlos Delfino all vying for those spots. Kaman does not have much back-up on the bench nor does Hinrich. Perhaps the biggest issue, something Alejandro will be facing for the first time, will be monetary concerns. With Kaman and Hinrich set to rake in $20 million between them next season, the Cavaliers teeter on the edge of the luxury tax territory. This is something new for Cleveland and it will be interesting to see just what happens next.