CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James said the Cavs don't have a real backup point guard.

It's not a revelation. James wasn't breaking any ground.

It's been the case since they let Matthew Dellavedova get away and Mo Williams chose not to show up for training camp. Coach Tyronn Lue has said the same on more than one occasion.

But James' voice always carries weight, and he lent it to what's been an underlying theme all season after the Cavs lost to the Bulls, 106-94, Wednesday at The Q.

"That was obvious from day one, first day of training camp," James said. "We don't have a reliable, veteran backup point guard."

Why would James say this? For one, he was asked. More to the point, though, he looked to his left and right Wednesday and saw either Jordan McRae or Kay Felder. That's because Kyrie Irving didn't play, and the Cavs have so many other injuries and illnesses that Iman Shumpert (who isn't really a point guard but has been filling the role) was needed off the ball.

So it was either McRae, who is definitely not a point guard, or Felder, who is (he's 5-9) but is a rookie.

"Kay's in the process of learning on the fly," James said. "He's a rookie and is going to have his mistakes and things of that nature. It's tough on him because we're a franchise trying to win a championship. He has to have a fast-track mind. But we don't have a backup point guard."

And?

"Us having 13 assists tonight is not who we are," James continued (he's almost done). "I had half the team's assists and that's not good for our team because we've got guys who need the ball in their hands and put the ball in the right position and the right spots for them to be successful. It's tough for us."

Yes, yes it is. About as tough as tough can be for a team that's now 26-8.

The question still remains -- what are the Cavs going to do about it?

Seated on the Bulls' bench for the third consecutive game was Rajon Rondo, a former All-Star who signed a two-year, $27 million deal in the offseason to come to Chicago. If the Bulls aren't going to play him, he'd like to be traded or bought out of his contract so he can choose his next team.

The Cavs are watching this development.

Mario Chalmers is a free agent now. He's recovering from a torn Achilles suffered last season. He hasn't worked out for any teams, but he remains on Cleveland's radar.

That the Cavs would be interested in either may indicate what the team will ultimately do in the trade market.

As of now, Cleveland has no roster spots to sign a free agent. It has what amounts to two dead roster spots -- one occupied by Williams and his $2.1 million contract; the other by Chris Andersen, his torn ACL, and $1.55 million contract.

The Cavs don't want to cut either of them, so they must trade them to avoid paying their full salaries and luxury tax penalties for each player.

They, meaning the Cavs, may also be without J.R. Smith until the end of March. Who knows how long it will take for him to get in shape? The playoffs begin in mid-April.

The Cavs may use the trade assets they have (including a $9.4 million trade exception), to trade for another shooter or wing player. They're not counting on Mike Dunleavy as of now to fill that role.

Making a trade for a shooter, and dealing Williams and Andersen in the process, would enable the Cavs to sign a free-agent backup to Irving. They'd like to see the free-agent and trade markets mature.

Chalmers' injury and Rondo's problems with various coaching staffs over his career make them questionable fits for Cleveland, though if either were available when the Cavs clear roster spots.

Also, Rondo is a career 29-percent shooter from 3-point range. The Cavs value players who can shoot 3s (better than that).