2008–09 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 2008–09 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 39th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They finished the regular season with 66 wins and 16 losses, the best record in the NBA, which easily surpassed the previous franchise best of 57–25 from the 1988–89 and 1991–92 seasons. LeBron James won his first MVP Award. The Cavaliers had the fourth best team offensive rating and the second best team defensive rating in the NBA. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons in the First Round in four games, swept the Atlanta Hawks  in the Semifinals in four games, before losing to the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals in six games, despite the Cavaliers being heavily favored to beat the Magic. The Magic would go on to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals in five games. Prior to their elimination by the Magic, many had expected the Cavs to appear in the Finals, which would've also been LeBron and Kobe Bryant's first head-to-head meeting in the Finals. Offseason. On June 26, 2008, the Cavaliers acquired the draft rights to forward Darnell Jackson from the  Miami Heat in exchange for the lower of the Cavaliers two second-round picks in the 2009 NBA Draft. In addition, Cleveland purchased the rights to center Sasha Kaun from the Seattle SuperSonics. On August 4, 2008, the Cavaliers signed Tarence Kinsey to a one-year contract. On August 13, 2008, the Cavaliers traded Damon Jones and Joe Smith to the Milwaukee Bucks for Maurice Williams as part of a three-team, a six-player deal among the Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City. On September 5, 2008, the Cavaliers signed Lorenzen Wright to a one-year contract. Second year  swingman Gabe Skinner waived to make room for the acquisition. Transactions. Free agents. March 5, 2009: Acquired Joe Smith from Oklahoma City Thunder