15 worst free agent signings in Cavaliers history

The Cleveland Cavaliers can claim one of the greatest free agent signings in NBA history, adding some guy named LeBron James in the summer of 2014. He left the Miami Heat, signed with the Cavs and took them to four straight NBA Finals, including the only NBA championship in franchise history.

LeBron is just one of a number of great decisions in free agency. The reality, especially for such an up-and-down franchise, is that this team has also made a number of poor decisions in free agency. Stretching all the way back to the 1980s, the Cavs have spent a lot of money on players who did not work out.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have made quite a few bad signings in free agency

The question therefore becomes: who have been the worst free agent signings in Cavaliers franchise history? Of the many whiffs, gaffes and blunders, who have been their biggest mistakes? Taking into account contract cost, contract length and any other repercussions, balanced with how poorly the player in question performed for Cleveland, we have compiled a list of the 15 worst free-agent signings.

This list is made up of players who signed a contract in free agency with the Cavaliers coming from another team; these aren’t incumbent players sticking around or rostered players signing extensions. Modern free agency has picked up much more in the last 25 years, but there are a couple of selections from before then.

With our most sincere apologies to Dirk Minniefield, Jelani McCoy and many others who just missed the cut, here are the 15 worst free agent signings in Cavaliers franchise history.