5 Best NBA Draft Picks by the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on the receiving end of the top pick of the NBA Draft Lottery five times, more than any other team in the league. In fact, the Cavs have selected first overall three times over the last four years. Talk about winning the lottery indeed.
The “Anthony Bennet pick” aside, rarely have the Cavs wasted their selections, putting their fortunes to good use whenever they have been given the opportunity to pick a player high in the draft. But the organization has also been blessed with terrific players when picking later in the first and even in the second round.
So who are the five best draft picks in Cleveland Cavaliers history? I’m glad you asked because we have them all here, ranked from fifth to first.
5. Ron Harper (1986 First Round 8th Pick)
Image courtesy of NBA.com
Had Ron Harper played more than three years with the Cavs, he would have been higher on this list. Gifted with the height, build, skills, and athleticism of Michael Jordan, Harper was one of the NBA’s best shooting guards, finishing his first year with averages of 22.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.5 steals.
He finished second to Chuck Person in the Rookie of the Year race, an award that many believe should have gone to Harper. No less than Jordan himself was surprised that the Cavs traded him for Danny Ferry, believing that Harper was one of the best players on the team.
If the Cavs had only held on to him, Cleveland could have gone farther in the playoffs and maybe even won a championship. That’s how good Harper was.
4. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (1996 First Round 20th Pick)
Washington Wizards v/s Cleveland Cavaliers November 18, 2009 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
Image courtesy of isportsweb.com
Very few people thought Ilgauskas would have the impact he has had on the Cavs’ franchise. After a solid rookie season where he was chosen for the All-NBA Rookie First Team, “Z” suffered through several foot injuries that derailed his career.
As soon as he got healthy, however, Ilgauskas made the most of his time by making it to the All-Star Game twice. He also played well with a certain LeBron James during his first tenure with the Cavaliers while also racking up franchise career numbers in the process. Today, Ilgauskas is number one on the Cavs all-time leader in games played (771), rebounds (5,904), offensive rebounds (2,336), and blocks (1,209).
The Cavs retired his jersey in the 2013-14 NBA season.
3. Kyrie Irving (2011 First Round 1st Pick)
Apr 5, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Being the first overall pick and justifying the selection are two different things. Kyrie Irving has more than lived up to being chosen first in the 2011 draft by becoming the Rookie of the Year.
Irving has since become an All-Star and the pillar of the Cavs’ rebuilding efforts in the wake of LeBron’s move to South Beach in 2010. He may not have brought the Cavs to the playoffs in any of his seasons until James returned to the team, but he has proven himself to be one of the game’s biggest performers, notching two 50-point games this past season with 55 points versus the Portland Trailblazers on January 28 and a career-high 57 points versus the San Antonio Spurs on March 12. The Cavs won both times.
The sky’s the limit for Irving and he may move up to second place on this list soon enough.
2. Brad Daugherty (1986 First Round 1st Pick)
Image courtesy of NBA.com
At a time when centers ruled the NBA, Brad Daugherty was one of the best. If not for Patrick Ewing in New York and Shaquille O’Neal later on in Orlando, Daugherty would have been the Eastern Conference’s best center.
One of the best passing big men, Daugherty was also one of the most polished players to play in the NBA, having learned from Dean Smith from the University of North Carolina. He averaged 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 53% shooting for his career before injuries forced him to retire in only his eight season in the league, all while playing with the Cavs.
The Cavs retired his number on March 1, 1997.
1. LeBron James (2003 First Round 1st Pick)
Jun 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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James was the consensus number one pick in the 2003 NBA draft and nearly a unanimous selection as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. LeBron is a shoe-in for one of the top five or ten players of all-time if he were to retire now.
Fortunately for the Cavs, James isn’t retiring anytime soon. He is the Cavs’ career leader in most of the team’s all-time career numbers including points, assist, steals, field goals, and free throws. He has been the league MVP four times and is young enough to win three or four more. James is a perennial selection to the NBA’s All-NBA First Team. By nearly bringing a championship to Cleveland in his first year back with an injury-depleted roster, LeBron’s legacy has grown that much more. For his career, James is averaging 27.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks.
There is no question, LeBron James is the Cleveland Cavaliers’ best NBA draft pick of all time.