The gears are already starting to turn.
Both Miami and Chicago made salary cap-saving deals in the last two days trying to open up room to sign two maximum free agents this summer.
Both teams will attempt to sign LeBron James during the most anticipated free-agent period in NBA history. James will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, weren't able to improve their team in Thursday's NBA draft. Chris Grant, now running his first draft since becoming general manager, failed to acquire a pick.
It wasn't for lack of trying. Grant and Cavs assistant GM Lance Blanks talked to many teams, but were unable to get anything done. The Cavs recently had a face-to-face meeting with James, possibly in Akron. Grant described the meeting as "business as usual." He said he doesn't know if he'll meet with James again before July 1.
There were rumors that the Cavs tried to acquire Chicago's No. 17 pick and select Kentucky point guard Eric Bledsoe.
However, the Bulls carved out more cap space by sending guard Kirk Hinrich and the 17th pick to Washington for a future second-round pick.
The Cavs were supposedly enamored with Bledsoe, who is being compared to Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, also from Kentucky. Bledsoe was drafted by Oklahoma City one pick later and traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
On Wednesday, the Heat dumped their first-round pick, No. 18, and guard Daequan Cook to Oklahoma City for the Thunder's second-round pick, No. 32 overall. That saved the Heat about $2 million.
"That doesn't concern me at all," Grant said. "We won 61 games last year. We've been the best team in the league the last two years. We have a culture and philosophy that's in place.
"All of our guys believe in winning. LeBron James knows how important he is to Northeast Ohio. We have a young core of players. From our standpoint, our concern is on us and our team and building and getting better."
Earlier in the day, ESPN reported that Golden State's No. 6 pick could have been had if a team assumed guard Monta Ellis' massive contract.
They didn't find any takers.
"There were a few guys we were interested in that we targeted (in the draft)," Grant said. "We were hopeful a few would fall.
"I think we were close, but not real close."
He said the Cavs targeted some bigs in the draft.
"We're not in a rebuilding situation," he said. "We want to keep that core and move forward."
Grant said he hopes to have guard Christian Eyenga, their 2009 first-round pick, play on the Cavs summer league team.
Center Sasha Kahn will spend a few days with the team in Las Vegas, but will not play.
Not only did the Cavs fail to add any talent to their roster, their coaching search is on hold until Lakers coach Phil Jackson makes a decision on his future.
Two top candidates for the Cavs' job, Byron Scott and Brian Shaw, have both targeted the Lakers' position if Jackson retires.
Many observers around the league think the 49-year-old Scott is high on the Cavs' list, perhaps No. 1. The former Nets and Hornets coach has already been interviewed by the Cavs. He would only probably be interested in the Cavs if James re-signs.
Shaw, an assistant coach on Jackson's staff, could also be in the mix with the Cavs. The 44-year-old has never been a head coach, but power broker "Worldwide Wes" William Wesley has been promoting him for job openings. The Lakers are also high on his potential as a future head coach.
"As we get closer, the field will narrow itself down and we'll make a decision," Grant said.
