Is Shaquille O'Neal the Key to a Cleveland Cavaliers Championship?

Today was the official news conference to introduce Shaquille O'Neal to the city of Cleveland and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Shaq was sitting in the middle of the Cavs general manager Danny Ferry and head coach Mike Brown. He was answering all questions in his usual comedic way. Shaq has said that his main goal and motto is simple: "Win a ring for the King." Shaq was referring to LeBron James, who's nickname is the King or King James.

Shaq was acquired by the Cavaliers from the Phoenix Suns last week for Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, $500,000, and a 2010 second round draft pick. This will be Shaq's fifth professional team, the other four being Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns. Shaq will also wear number 33, going back to his high school roots. Shaq has won four NBA championships in his illustrious career, three with the Lakers and one with the Heat. Shaq has played 17 seasons in the NBA, but said that he still has a lot left, three years to be precise.

Shaq might be the missing link that the Cavaliers were looking for. The Cavaliers have never had a dominant center, and that is exactly what Shaq brings to the team.

Last season, the Cavaliers were one of the favorites to make it to the NBA finals and win it all. All was going according to plan with the Cavaliers winning an NBA-best 66 games in the regular season and sweeping the Pistons and Hawks in the first two rounds of the playoffs. But in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavaliers were upset by Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic in six games. The Cavaliers accomplished many things but it was still a disappointing season.

The city of Cleveland has seemed to be cursed in all sports, not only basketball. Cleveland has perhaps the biggest sports championship drought. The last Cleveland title came in 1964 when the Browns won the NFL Championship. It's been 45 years and counting. The Cleveland Indians last won the World Series in 1948, and the Cavaliers are still looking for their first title.

There have also been rumors that Trevor Ariza might be close to joining the Cavaliers. Ariza, who won his first championship with the Lakers last season, wants more money and the Lakers are not willing to oblige. Cleveland has been in talks with Ariza for a while now. Ariza might be an improvement to Anderson Varejao, who is a free agent this summer.

The Cavaliers are bringing out all the stops to try to get LeBron James his first championship, and to convince him to stay with the team past the 2010 season.