"For the first time in nearly a decade, the Cavaliers are expected to draw money from the NBA revenue-sharing pool rather than deposit into it.

The sum probably won't cover Kyrie Irving's rookie salary -- he is expected to make $5.1 million this season -- and the idea of being on the dole doesn't appeal to a franchise that under owner Dan Gilbert has never viewed itself as a typical small-market team.

But if there were ever a time to start opening checks from Commissioner David Stern, it's now.

The new revenue-sharing plan, adopted last month with the collective bargaining agreement, will produce a roughly $200 million pot by the 2013-14 season. That's a staggering increase from the previous total of $60 million, and marks the greatest redistribution of wealth in league history.

Will it prevent the next Chris Paul from leaving New Orleans for Los Angeles? Maybe not. But it infuses low-revenue franchises with money they can use to entice their best players to stay or assist in a rebuilding project. "