By STEVE LUHM, Salt Lake Tribune

After LeBron James turned his back on Cleveland, the Cavaliers' first season without him became a nightmarish plunge into irrelevance.

While James led Miami to the NBA Finals, the Cavs turned into Rick Perry.

Nobody cared.

As quickly as Perry went from contender to punch line in his Republican presidential bid, the faceless Cavaliers disappeared from the radar screen.

Burdened by cumbersome expectations and disappointing early-season results, Butler coach Brad Stevens endured a miserable Christmas.

The root of Stevens' discontent were two losses in a 15-day span to Georgetown and Alabama-Birmingham.

Utah takes its Mountain West Conference title hopes on the road Saturday.

No big deal.

The last time the Los Angeles Clippers owned the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, they dropped the ball.
But it won't happen again.
In 1998, the Clippers used the first pick on Michael Olowokandi from Pacific.