Central Division breakdown: With Shaq, Cavs strengthen hold

So what do you do after you've already lapped the field in the division last season by 25 games, have the reigning MVP in your lineup and yet that nagging loss to Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals sticking in your craw?

If you're the Cavaliers, you bring in Shaquille O'Neal, of course, and send the basketball world scrambling for another set of nicknames for the itinerant center. Remake by the Lake? Shaqalier? The Big O'hio? Ring Bearer? O'Neal will be allowed to call himself anything he wants in Cleveland if he gets LeBron James over the hump and hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy at precisely the time next June when he becomes a free agent.

The Bulls bid farewell to Ben Gordon, but are counting on Derrick Rose and maybe a few other late summer moves to take them up a notch. Meanwhile Gordon and fellow free agent Charlie Villanueva have taken up residence as centerpieces in Joe Dumars' reconstruction plan in Detroit.

Tyler Hansbrough gives the Pacers the kind of hard-nosed, scrappy player with whom Larry Bird can identify and the Bucks are hoping that a season not plagued by injuries can get them up off the floor.

Gained -- Shaquille O'Neal, Anthony Parker, Anderson Varejao, Daniel Green, Christian Eyenga

Lost -- Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace

Up in the air -- After locking down forward Anderson Varejao with a six-year contract worth almost $50 million with incentives and getting Anthony Parker for two years at $6 million, things are pretty much rounding into shape for the Cavs. They would still like to re-sign free agent Wally Szczerbiak, but at a greatly reduced rate. Free agent Joe Smith will be allowed to walk.

Early projection for 2009-10 season -- The Cavs definitely made the biggest splash in the pool this summer when Shaq did a cannon ball into their laps. They only gave up Sasha Pavlovic and Ben Wallace and now Shaq is promising to win a ring for the King. Shaq seems to be on hand to deal with Dwight Howard in another series with Orlando. But does he lift them past a rejuvenated Boston bunch? Was it telling in any way that Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza and Charlie Villanueva all passed up a chance to join Shaq and LeBron? After Mo Williams' offense was eventually shut down by the Magic, Anthony Parker's outside shooting touch will be welcomed. They likely overpaid for Varejao, but need his active body on the frontline if they're going to get back to the Finals. But one season after they finished with the best record in the East, the Cavs might have slipped back behind Boston again.

Gained -- James Johnson, Taj Gibson, Jannero Pargo

Lost -- Ben Gordon

Up in the air -- Who fills the offensive hole left by Ben Gordon's departure? Does Tyrus Thomas get shipped out? Can they afford to keep Kirk Hinrich's contract around as a backup for another year? What is the status of Luol Deng as he recovers from a fractured tibia? In the case of Deng, the Bulls have seen him recently go through some solid workouts at their training facility and if he's back in the lineup with his old form, it will help make up for the loss of Gordon's scoring punch.

Early projection for 2009-10 season -- After nearly two years of haggling and dancing and leaving everyone in limbo, the Bulls and Gordon finally went their separate ways when the shooter signed a free agent deal right away with Detroit. The timing sure seemed odd coming right after Gordon shined in the Playoffs, but the Bulls are banking on having a more harmonious group and still enough punch with Derrick Rose playing with a healthy Deng. James Johnson and Taj Gibson could both be keepers as draft picks. But there is no getting around the fact that Chicago will miss Gordon's ability to take over games and hit the late, big shots. The Bulls are just not as scary anymore.

Gained -- Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko

Lost -- Rasheed Wallace, Allen Iverson, Antonio McDyess, Amir Johnson, Arron Afflalo, Walter Sharpe

Up in the air -- At least GM Joe Dumars finally settled on a new head coach with John Kuester, who got high marks as a Cleveland assistant. With free agent Antonio McDyess gone to San Antonio, the Pistons are now woefully thin up front, especially in the middle with Kwame Brown as the only true center on the roster. They didn't make a move toward free agent Brandon Bass. They could turn their attention to a forward in Glen Davis or get back into the rumors involving Carlos Boozer again.

Early projection for 2009-10 season -- The mighty have definitely fallen. After six straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances, the Pistons have plummeted like a piano off a 10-story roof. The addition of Ben Gordon gives them a capable -- and very willing shooter -- but does he fit in any better with Rip Hamilton than Allen Iverson did? Charlie Villanueva put up very good numbers in Milwaukee last year and got a nice deal from the Pistons, but is he really ready to blossom and earn it? Rodney Stuckey, in his third NBA season, still has to prove that he can be the successor to Chauncey Billups as the quarterback. They swapped Arron Afflalo and Walter Sharpe to Denver for a second-round pick and cash, maybe to clear space to lure Davis from Boston. If Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince are both still on the roster opening night, the Pistons are an interesting collection of individual parts, but not likely any better than first-round playoff fodder again.

Gained -- Tyler Hansbrough, Dahntay Jones

Lost -- None

Up in the air -- Now that they've signed Dahntay Jones away from Denver with a four-year, $11 million contract, the Pacers will turn their attention to their own free agents Jarrett Jack and Marquis Daniels. They're also hoping that Mike Dunleavy can make a healthy return to the lineup following hip surgery.

Early projection for 2009-10 season -- In a matter of days, the Pacers got significantly tougher with the signing of first-round draft pick Tyler Hansbrough and the free agent Jones. While most of Jones' notoriety last spring with the Nuggets came for his tripping of Kobe Bryant, he's a rugged, solid defender whose offensive skills might be underrated. There are few who expect Hansbrough to be a star at the NBA level, but he should give Jim O'Brien and Larry Bird solid minutes as a hard-nosed competitor. If Dunleavy can return to form and join Danny Granger as a gun in the lineup, the Pacers are making steady steps toward improvement and have the potential to surprise in the East.

Gained -- Bruce Bowen, Brandon Jennings, Amir Johnson, Jodie Meeks, Kurt Thomas

Lost -- Richard Jefferson, Fabricio Oberto

Up in the air -- The Bucks saved themselves considerable money when they shipped Richard Jefferson to San Antonio in what was little more than a salary dump. But now they need someone to provide offense at the small forward position and have turned their attention to Josh Childress, who could opt out of his contract in Greece and perhaps be acquired in a sign-and-trade with Atlanta. If they can't get restricted free agent Ramon Sessions to come back to the fold, the point guard spot will be in the hands of rookie Brandon Jennings.

Early projection for 2009-10 season -- While the Bucks have taken a lot of hits for allowing Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva to walk away for virtually nothing, they were coming off a season where a $71 million payroll got them only 34 victories. If they can get center Andrew Bogut back on the floor healthy for the full season and Jennings or Sessions or a combination of both can handle the point, Milwaukee is set at the two most critical positions. Michael Redd can still score from anywhere on the floor. It would help if they could land Childress to play small forward. If not, the Bucks were winging it at the two forward spots with Joe Alexander coming off a disappointing rookie season where he often looked lost and Amir Johnson entering his fourth NBA season of unrealized potential.