After having conversations, the Cavs might look to bring in guard Allan Houston, who is coming out of retirement, for a workout next month.

League sources said the Cavs have expressed interest in 16-year veteran center Dikembe Mutombo.

He has been offered a contract to stay with the Houston Rockets but has not signed while he considers options.

LeBron James was 11-for-11 from the field, making all four of his 3-point attempts, and scored 26 points in the first half Wednesday night to lead the United States to a 118-79 victory over Uruguay in the FIBA Americas tournament.

In a sensational display of speed and power, James raised his tournament-leading shooting percentage to an almost comical 79.7 percent (47-of-59). He is 14-of-20 from 3-point range, a 70 percent mark that also leads the event.

Despite playing only 14 minutes, he fell two points shy of the American record in an Olympic qualifying game shared by Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.

League sources have said that a possible deal for Sacramento Kings' point guard Mike Bibby is still on the table for the Cavaliers, but it will take letting go of Drew Gooden to sweeten the pot.

The Cavs could also make a one player for two deal with the New York Knicks or Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks have 16 players on their roster and the Mavericks have 17. Each team is in need of giving up two for one to reduce their roster.

There's also a wild card in the mix. The Cavs may also conduct some secret workouts to see what's left of former players like Allan Houston and Oakley. Jalen Rose, who spent last season on the bench with Phoenix, could also receive a look. The Cavs still have to decide what to do with restricted free agents Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic. Expect those deals to get completed early next month.

The lure of Jason Kidd is a strong reason the Nets could land one of the more attractive remaining free agents, small forward James Posey.

"We've been talking and talking for a while," Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed yesterday. "And while it's hard to get into specifics, yes, the Nets are in the running. I would think there will be a decision soon."

Bartelstein was hoping for a decision last night, but said it might go into the weekend before Posey makes his choice.

Though attracted to playing with Kidd, Posey, 6-foot-8, 30 years old, who spent his last two seasons in Miami, is considering offers from the Celtics and Cavaliers. The Nets are at a financial disadvantage and have the biannual exception, $1.8 million, unless they can work a sign-and-trade with the Heat.

Boston has $3.6 million of its mid-level exception remaining.

The mortgage industry is suffering an unprecedented crisis with a credit crunch and skyrocketing foreclosure rates, directly affecting the bottom line of giants like Quicken Loans, the primary company of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

These two statements are facts, but they are not related. That's something that comes from Gilbert himself.

''There is zero connection between any current events in the mortgage markets with the strategy, tactics and payroll of the Cleveland Cavaliers,'' Gilbert said in an e-mail message Monday.

The Cavs have been very conservative in the free-agent market, even with its own restricted free agents Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, and some fans have begun to wonder if it has anything to do with the Livonia, Mich.-based business.

One team that hasn't been all that busy -- although it did take another stab at acquiring Mike Bibby -- are the Cavaliers, whose two restricted free agents, Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, remain unsigned.

"We need them," said LeBron James. "Anderson is a big part of our team, and Sasha came along big last season. I think we need both of them, and I think both want to stay, but we'll have to wait and see what happens."

James said he has been too busy to keep in constant touch with Cavs general manager Danny Ferry.

Yes, it might make the road back to the NBA Finals a little tougher for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the arrivals of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in Boston, Zach Randolph in New York, Jason Richardson in Charlotte and Rashard Lewis in Orlando will increase the competitiveness of the conference -- and to LeBron that's a good thing.

"It's about time we got some pros over in the Eastern Conference," James said Thursday after Team USA held its second practice. "I think it's going to be good. I think the Eastern Conference is definitely going to step up a notch now because Boston wasn't a playoff team, but now they're looking like they're going to be a playoff team. New York is definitely going to have a good shot at it again, and the Eastern Conference is definitely stepping it up. I think it's good for the league."

The Cleveland Cavaliers have named John Kuester as an assistant coach, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. Kuester joins Hank Egan, Melvin Hunt, Chris Jent and Michael Malone on Head Coach Mike Brown?s coaching staff.

?We?re fortunate to have John join Mike Brown?s coaching team. John will bring a great all-around view of the game to our staff and be able to help in all areas of our team?s development. He?s a passionate coach that has experienced winning at the highest level and we look forward to him being a key contributor,? stated Ferry.

Miami has inquired about several free agent wing players, including Portland starting small forward Ime Udoka and Cleveland restricted free agent Sasha Pavlovic, but remains steadfast against paying much luxury tax.