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LeBron James: Cavs wanted to draft Andre Iguodala in 2004

By Quenton S. Albertie

PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 10: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during a game on April 10, 2009 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cavaliers won 102-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 10: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during a game on April 10, 2009 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cavaliers won 102-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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If the Cleveland Cavaliers had drafted Andre Iguodala in 2004, it would have changed the story of LeBron James.

According to Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, just the year after the historical day that saw the Cavaliers organization select “a kid from Akron” with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Cavs had planned to select University of Arizona product and current Golden State Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala with the 10th pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Unfortunately, the Philadelphia 76ers would select Iguodala with the ninth overall pick in the draft and the Cavs would select University of Oregon shooting guard Luke Jackson instead.

Despite his sharpshooting and playmaking potential, even averaging 21.2 points and 4.5 assists per game in his senior year, “Cool Hand Luke” never panned out in the pros.

The Cavaliers traded him to the Celtics after just two seasons with averages of 2.8 points and 0.6 steals per game. He was out of the league after his fourth season.

The Cavs had a chance to draft players like Kevin Martin, Josh Smith and Jameer Nelson after Iguodala was selected, players with careers that turned out far better than Jackson’s but the best wing in the draft, if not Duke University’s all-around small forward Luol Deng, was Iguodala.

Iguodala was something like a LeBron-lite coming out of college.

Blessed with potent playmaking abilities, great size for the position, a high basketball IQ and elite athleticism, Iguodala had a well-rounded game that was well-suited for a franchise that needed a feature player.

For a Cavaliers team that was building around James, selecting Iguodala in the 2004 NBA Draft would have been like the Chicago Bulls taking Scottie Pippen with the fifth overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft to pair him with Michael Jordan.

In James’ first stint in Cleveland, he certainly could have used a player like Iguodala when they took on teams with a championship-level assortment of offensive talent.

Teams like the Detroit Pistons, a five-headed monster led by Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace.

Teams like the Orlando Magic, led by a future three-time Defensive Player of the Year in Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson.

Teams like the Boston Celtics, led by perennial All-Stars in Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett along with Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.

Even a team like the San Antonio Spurs, led by an arguably top-10 player of all-time in Tim Duncan along with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli.

James’ best sidekicks were good, make no doubt about it.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas was a stretch-five and great shot-blocker. Larry Hughes and Mo Williams were great scorers and could get it done on the defensive end as well.

However, there was always something, or someone, missing from his team when James faced off against the top talents. That was the case no matter how well he played.

Iguodala, with his versatility, playmaking and ability to lock-up at least one scorer on the defensive end, could have made a lot of playoff series a lot easier for James and the Cavaliers.

In the seven seasons that James spent in Cleveland before bolting to Miami, Iguodala averaged 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 46.4 percent shooting from the field, 32.1 percent shooting from the perimeter and 75.1 percent shooting from the charity stripe.

In his first 11 seasons with the Bulls, Pippen averaged 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game on 48.3 percent shooting from the field, 32.8 percent shooting from the perimeter and 69.3 percent shooting from the charity stripe.

He didn’t have quite the impact that Pippen, a Hall of Famer, had. He was close though.

That’s the type of player the Cavaliers consistently struck out in James’ first stint — whether in drafts, trades or free agency — giving him a reason to leave the organization.

If the Cleveland Cavaliers had drafted Iguodala there may have never been a “The Decision.”

13 seasons later, James would probably have more rings and a better win-loss record in the NBA Finals.

Unfortunately, the world will never know what effect the Cavs drafting Iguodala, who won Finals MVP in 2015 for averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game and helping hold the usually efficient James to 39.8 percent shooting from the field, would have had on James’ career.

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*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com