There were several times during the course of the season James privately and publicly questioned Cleveland's ability to compete for a championship and yet without Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao, that's exactly what the Cavaliers did.
"This is a process," Cavs coach David Blatt said. "You don't wake up one morning and fall out of bed and expect to win the NBA Championship. You hope that you can, but it doesn't always work that way, and our guys did more than anyone could expect to put themselves and put our organization in this situation."
They fell short to a deeper, more talented (in the present, injuries included) Golden State Warriors team that benefited from three qualities LeBron James said are vital to a title run: health, great basketball and luck.
"You lose in the Finals, they're all disappointing. Doesn't matter if I'm playing in Miami or playing in Cleveland or playing on Mars. You lose the Finals, it's disappointing," a subdued, thoughtful and disappointed James said.
Despite James telling reporters, "I haven't thought about next season at all," it's already on to next season for the Cavaliers to some degree.
A Cavs front-office staffer was in Europe and watched workouts of U.S. players within the past 10 days to scout for next week's draft. Free agency opens the week after the draft, and the Cavaliers will send a team of young players and prospects to the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League in mid-July.
Cavs general manager David Griffin, an executive of the year candidate this season, has decisions and moves to make.
Regardless of those injuries, the Cavs still need to retain key players and add more depth, starting with re-signing forward Kevin Love, if Love chooses to opt out of the final year of his deal and become a free agent. Though he's said he won't opt out, it wouldn't be a surprise if he did, and it's the prudent route to take.
Will Love re-sign with Cleveland? Who knows. Love has never had that giant pay day and could get one from the Cavs. He could also look elsewhere for a big contact. Signing a two-year deal and opting out after next season and becoming a free agent again is another option. But if he's truly looking for the scenario which pays him and gives him the best chance to win a championship, Cleveland is the front-runner.
James can also opt out, and if he does, it's not to look at other teams, it's to take advantage of a larger max deal because of the increase in the salary cap.