nba finals

The Cavs have LeBron James. They have the No. 1 spot in the latest Power Rankings. But there's one player who can stop Cleveland from making the NBA Finals, writes Chris Mannix.

In a possible NBA Finals preview, LeBron and the Cavs frustrated Kobe and proved they can beat the Lakers at home and on the road -- even when undermanned, writes Chris Mannix.

While there are no moral victories in the NBA, there are thing on which greater things can be built. This seems to be the case for the Orlando Magic.

Last season this team went five games deep into the NBA finals, while they eventually lost to the Lakers, which was a loss on top of which the Magic can build future success.

While they were good enough to make the finals a year ago, a strong argument can be made that they are a far better team heading into the new NBA season.

On one hand the Dallas Mavericks are a team that has somehow managed to stay relevant in a tough NBA Western Division.

On another they are a team that has never recovered from an historic collapse in the 2006 NBA finals. While they seem to be a great team on paper, their Western Conference opponents seem to take them less and less seriously.

With that in mind the Mavericks made a few changes of the off season.

Free agent Hedo Turkoglu will join the Toronto Raptors after spurning the Portland Trail Blazers, according to multiple reports.

The 6-foot-10 forward helped Orlando to the NBA finals last season. On Friday, a person close to the Blazers confirmed that Turkoglu ended contract talks with them.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

Hedo Turkoglu reportedly agreed to join the Portland Trail Blazers after helping Orlando reach the NBA finals this season.

ESPN.com on Friday cited unidentified sources and did not disclose terms. Turkoglu's agent, Lon Babby, did not immediately return calls or e-mails.

Portland cannot comment on the agreement until Wednesday, when teams may sign free agents.

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard reaches for the ball after after blocing the shot by Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball finals Sunday in Los Angeles.