Written by Jerry Roche

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While the whole Cleveland sporting world has been focused on the NFL draft, the Cavaliers have quietly gone home after a 21-45 season.

Their winning percentage of 31.8 was certainly better than that of the previous season (23.2 on 19 wins. 63 losses). But did the Cavs really improve from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012?

Statistically, the only two major categories that they showed a marked improvement season-to-season were rebounds per game (42.3 vs. 40.3) and steals per game (7.1 vs. 6.6). They advanced to the rear in assists per game (19.8 vs. 21.0) and turnovers per game (14.6 vs. 13.7), at least partially due to having a rookie at point guard.

Otherwise, this season’s team statistics were pretty much the same as last season’s—which is to say, pretty deplorable. They ranked in the lower fifth in the league in nearly every category, and very near the bottom in field-goal percentage and blocks per game (see table).

It’s a shame. With two top-four draft picks following the culmination of the 2010-2011 season, hopes were high for at least some improvement. Didn’t happen. Fans were subjected to the same incompetence as they witnessed before they chose presumptive Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson in the college draft last summer.

The last couple weeks of the season were especially discouraging, as center Andy Varejao and Irving sat the bench with injuries and the team lost eight of its last nine. Thompson was forced to play out of position at center for lack of a better alternative. So the Cavs got dismantled 102-83 by Indiana, 116-77 by Detroit, 103-87 by Philadelphia and 107-75 by Chicago in the season finale. In the lopsided contest at Detroit, they trailed 100-50 at the end of the third quarter.

Certainly, the team does not need to excel in every statistical category to contend for a playoff berth. But it would be nice to move up in the rankings in at least a few categories, wouldn’t it?

Entering this season’s playoffs, the Chicago Bulls had the best regular-season record. As a means of comparison, the Bulls’ team rankings are listed in the table. As is evident, the Bulls hang their hat on tough interior defense, ranking first in the league in rebounds per game, second in points allowed per game, and third in blocks per game. Offensively, the Bulls are merely in the middle of the league with 96.4 points per game and a 45.3 field-goal percentage, further proof that you don’t need to lead the league in every category to be playoff bound.

Meanwhile, even after two years of "rebuilding," the Cavaliers’ roster is still in desperate need of upgrading to respectability, much less playoff potential. They were forced to dredge the D-League for eight players during the past season, most in the NBA, a sure sign that there’s a discouraging lack of talent after you get past the top three or four guys.

Two first-round choices in the upcoming college draft—one no later than No. 6 and No. 23—and two second-round picks—33 and 34—should help the roster situation. Provided of course, that the front office does not piss away the two second-rounders like they did last summer. To refresh your memory, the team traded No. 32 pick Justin Harper to the Orlando Magic and then went with Milan Macvan, who chose to play with KK Partizan in Europe, at No. 54. (Harper averaged just 1.4 points in 6 minutes per game for the Magic while Macvan started at power forward for Partizan.)

It may help that the Cavs will be about $20 million under the salary cap—if they use it.

“We have a lot of cap space, but cap space doesn't necessarily mean you have to go spend it,” general manager Chris Grant notes. “If we’re going to spend, I want to spend wisely. We don’t want to over-pay guys. If a guy fits into a role of what we’re trying to do and can grow with our team, then great. If not, we’re going to stay disciplined.”

Irving coming back for his sophomore season as point guard, Varejao coming back from his injury, and Thompson reportedly working on his shooting over the summer give the Cavs a nice core that should excel on the defensive end of the court. But offense could be a concern, unless they come up with a shooting guard who can shoot and a stretch forward who can also shoot. That’s another big “if.” The Cavs were 29th of 30 teams in field-goal percentage—and that's with Thompson and Alonzo Gee regularly going the slamma-jamma route.

Beyond the starters, the bench is a huge problem. Head coach Byron Scott doesn't have any rotation players, and little hope of adding depth since the main concern has to be upgrading the starting lineup. It would be nice if the Cavs could sign a couple veteran NBA guys with names you heard of, rather than having to depend on D-Leaguers like Lester Hudson and Donald Sloan to fill out the roster. But, given the team's reputation, that may be too much to ask for.

What has become increasingly evident over the past 12 months is that this post-LBJ rebuild will take a minimum of at least two more seasons.

“We’re headed in the right direction,” says Scott. “It’s still going to be a long process. We’re probably not going to be there this coming year, but if we hit home runs in the draft, it puts us in a position to get much better quicker.”

Based on recent drafts by Grant and his predecessor Danny Ferry, that’s a big “if.” Outside of the scumbag turncoat in 2003 and Irving last summer (both slam-dunk picks), Grant and especially Ferry have had a dismal drafting record. We’d go into greater depth on this subject, but it would be difficult to type through the tears.

So just take a deep breath and bear with, for at least another 82 games.