NEW YORK (AP) – Kobe Bryant was hours away from another NBA championship when that large, looming shadow appeared again.

Game 5 of the NBA finals in June arrived along with a report that the Cleveland Cavaliers, realizing they needed more help for LeBron James, had renewed talks on a deal for Shaquille O’Neal.

The trade for Bryant’s extra large ex-teammate went through soon after, creating the tantalizing possibility of a Kobe vs. LeBron and Shaq final, and perhaps making Cleveland the favorite to face the Los Angeles Lakers for this season’s championship.

Unless it’s Boston.

Or Orlando.

Or maybe San Antonio stops the Lakers from even getting out of the West.

All the top contenders made big moves, and the one that gets the best return on its investment could get the biggest reward next June.

“A lot of teams in the East got better, a lot of teams in the West got better,’’ O’Neal said. “It’s going to be one of the most exciting years ever since I’ve been in the league.’’

Economic woes this year and the lure of a blockbuster free agent class next kept most teams quiet this summer. Just not those whose championship window is open.

– The Cavaliers want O’Neal and James to be a championship pairing like O’Neal-Bryant – without the soap opera.
– The Lakers signed Ron Artest, an upgrade in talent on the court but a wild card in the locker room.
– The Boston Celtics inked Rasheed Wallace, hoping the temperamental forward can either fill in for or play alongside of a recovered Kevin Garnett.
– The Orlando Magic traded for Vince Carter, believing he can replace what they lost with the departure of Hedo Turkoglu.
– The San Antonio Spurs acquired Richard Jefferson, giving them some much-needed athleticism on the wing to play with their trio of stars.

Already among the best, those teams all could be even better.

“I think what happens is those teams, actually they were favored before the trades were made, and they became stronger,’’ Boston coach Doc Rivers said.

And at least one team may have needed to. James is the headline name in that free agent class next summer, which could also include Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki and Joe Johnson.

Teams are lining up for a chance to be spenders – though a potential significant drop in the salary cap could hamper some plans. The Cavaliers don’t want to risk losing their league MVP, so they’ve continued trying to strengthen a team that had the league’s best record last season before getting knocked off by the Magic in the conference finals.

Orlando, beaten in the finals, also was busy, realizing it needed something more to finish the job this season.

Tuesday’s opening night features three of the contenders. The Celtics visit the Cavaliers in the first game of the season, an early chance to gauge
Garnett’s health after knee pain shut him down late last season, wrecking Boston’s chance to retain the title. The Lakers raise their championship banner later that evening when they face the crosstown Clippers, featuring No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin. (TEMPO news)