2009–10 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The Celtics would advance to the NBA Finals and lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.

Following the season, Danny Ferry stepped down as general manager, head coach Mike Brown was fired, James signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, Shaquille O'Neal signed as a free agent for his final season with the Boston Celtics, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas left to play his final season with the Heat.

After LeBron's departure, the Cavaliers struggled greatly without him for four seasons, and entered a state of rebuilding.

The Cavs sent Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the Wizards, plus a first round draft pick in 2010 and the rights to Emir Preldžić.

[3] On March 23, the Cavaliers re-signed Ilgauskas for the remainder of the season after his contract was bought out by the Wizards.