The Akron Beacon Journal wishes to print a correction.

On Dec. 4, this reporter called the Cavaliers ``a playoff candidate.'' It was written that ``the presence of (Zydrunas) Ilgauskas, one of the top centers in the East even when not at full strength, has a way of making even the most beaten-down Cavs fans optimistic.''

The Beacon Journal regrets the error.

At the midpoint of the season, the Cavs are only a candidate for the top pick in the draft. They're 13-28 and saddled with a 10-game losing streak. There is little reason for optimism.

The hope was the Cavs could contend for the playoffs after Ilgauskas returned from yet another foot problem. Well, he's been back for 1 1/2 months, and the Cavs are doing even worse. They were 6-11 without Ilgauskas, and have gone 7-17 since his Dec. 4 return.

``You all thought that Z would just show up and it will all be great,'' Cavs coach John Lucas told the media. ``It hasn't worked that way.''

Ilgauskas, his feet ravaged by five surgeries, is rusty and slower. He'll continue to improve, but it obviously will not be nearly enough for the Cavs to return to respectability.

What is there to look forward to for Cavs fans, who haven't had it this bad since the Ted Stepien years of the early 1980s? The return of an over-the-hill Tyrone Hill? Like that's really going to matter.

Rebuilding period

The Cavs are rebuilding, although sometimes team officials change the words so it doesn't sound as monotonous. Lucas yesterday called the season a ``reawakening,'' whatever that means.

It's hard, though, to build something when there's not much of a foundation. The Cavs have the worst situation of any team in the NBA. They have no All-Stars and few players who have the potential to be All-Stars.

The Cavs' best player is point guard Andre Miller. But point guards are supposed to be leaders, and Miller lacks those skills. With his team mired in a dreadful losing streak, you'd think Miller would be challenging players. But he barely makes a peep. Well, he did make this insightful comment the other day.

``We're trying not to look at it as a losing streak,'' said Miller, perhaps hoping he'll wake up from this nightmare and find himself with another team.

Another building block is supposedly center Chris Mihm, the most uninspiring player whose likeness ever has been featured on a bobblehead doll. Mihm is showing few signs that he's going to be anything special in this league. The 7-footer is tip-toeing around and aimlessly firing jumpers to the tune of 41 percent.

At least Mihm, taken with the No. 7 pick in 2000, looks pretty good compared with the two other players recently taken in the lottery. Guard Trajan Langdon, drafted No. 11 in 1999, has been a bust. Center DeSagana Diop, picked No. 8 last year, might be able to contribute about the time there's no ozone layer left.

Need impact player

Two other young players that the Cavs are auditioning are guard Ricky Davis and forward Jumaine Jones. Davis is very athletic, but he seems more concerned with alley-oop dunks than winning. Jones has potential, but he's been very inconsistent.

Then there are the two veterans who might be in the Cavs' future only because they have long contracts. Guard Wesley Person and forward Lamond Murray are both having solid seasons, but neither has the ability to carry a team.

``We don't have that true difference-maker on the team,'' admitted Cavs general manager Jim Paxson. ``Like Orlando has (Tracy) McGrady.''

Until the Cavs can get that difference-maker, the situation will remain bleak. One way to get such a player is with one of the top picks in the draft. That's why the Cavs, who have the league's fourth-worst record, should start using young players even more, paying little heed to what it does to their record.

And then there is Lucas' pipe dream that top free agents will flock to the Cavs when they have cap room after next season. It's highly unlikely that will happen, since no top free agent ever has signed with the Cavs, but at least it gives officials in the organization hope.

If the summer of 2003 passes and the Cavs are still trying to build a foundation with Lincoln Logs, all hope will be gone.