Cleveland Cavaliers: Top 30 all-time greatest players
By Ben Beecken
Drew Gooden. 21. player. 156. <ul> <li>4 seasons with Cavaliers (2004-08)</li> <li>Averaged 11.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game</li> </ul>. PF.
The former Kansas Jayhawk was drafted in the No. 4 spot by the Memphis Grizzlies but was traded to Orlando right before the deadline during his rookie season.
He was traded again after Year Two, this time to Cleveland where he would spend the next three-plus seasons — the longest period of time that Gooden would spend with any team in his NBA career.
Gooden started in 290 of 292 games for the Cavs, averaging 11.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest. He started a career-high 80 games twice in Cleveland, including in the 2006-07 season that saw the Cavs reach the NBA Finals before getting swept by San Antonio.
Gooden started in 20 postseason games that season, averaging 11.4 points and eight rebounds during the playoffs.
He was shipped to Chicago as part of a massive three-team trade that brought Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith, and Ben Wallace to the Cavaliers.