The Cauldron

After playing ten unexceptional seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers as a player, Cavs GM Danny Ferry seems well on his way to leading the Cavaliers through another decade of disappointment. After failing to pull the trigger on any available free agent or trade option yet to come about this past year, Cavs fans have to question whether or not their General Manager is truly an asset to the organization.

After a championship caliber 2007 Season, the Cavaliers really shouldn't be talking about rebuilding. Heck, they shouldn't even be mumbling about it. A lot of stuff was moved around during this last NBA offseason and current season. Plenty of superstar players found themselves in good company with other superstars. In the West we have Steve Nash and the Diesel. Most impressively, even Kobe got appeased this season. The East is bound to be dominant this year, and worst of all, the Celtics Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett seem to be looming over the former Eastern Conference Champion's shoulder. Suddenly, it seems like every GM in the NBA has had a stroke of genius at the exact same time. That is, except Danny Ferry. After an offseason spent doing nothing, it looks like Ferry may reserve the right to do more of just that for the Cavs again this season. What do LeBron and the rest of the Cavs roster have to do to catch a break in this town?

Ferry's solution is to wait. Wait until this season is over. After all, the Cavs are perpetually rebuilding. Championship caliber teams don't fall to number 14 in power rankings during the regular season. If somehow the Cavaliers make a run again this year, LeBron James would have to take the whole mantle of responsibility playing with the exact same roster he had a year ago against a much-improved Eastern Conference. So Danny Ferry says wait. Until next offseason, and then the one after that. Wait until your franchise's star player is on a private jet making his way to New York or California.

Well, in the NBA, good things never come to those who wait. Champion teams aren't put together by General Mangers that fail to make the necessary adjustments in the offseason or fail to pull the trigger during trade deadlines. Teams that live by such lazy schools of thought are better remembered for being beaten than accomplishing the incredible.

LeBron James was brought to Cleveland to embody the incredible. He's here and he's done incredible things all by himself. I'm still volatile about Cleveland's first Finals appearance. All the while James has smiled, remained calm, and put the team on his back. He's gotten them closer and closer- all by his lonesome. He's been promised help time and time again. Lies, lies, lies, but he's a good sport. He even committed to this franchise until 2010- the year he turns 25. James has already sat patiently and will continue to sit patiently until the Cavs give him help or until he gets around to demanding some. As if on cue, that's where Danny Ferry comes in to shrug and say, "Wait." Wait until next year.

Well, in the next few years LeBron James may decide not to tolerate the Cavs thriftiness and that old waiting game. The question is when that particular next year arrives will anyone blame James for catching the next flight out? I won't.

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