15 worst free agent signings in Cavaliers history

Worst Cavaliers free agent signings No. 13: Dwyane Wade, 2017

The 2017 offseason was a tumultuous one for the Cavaliers, who responded to a Kyrie Irving trade request by sending him to the Boston Celtics for a top draft pick and a collection of veterans. They filled in the gaps around Irving through other transactions, including signing LeBron’s old wingman in Miami to a deal, Dwyane Wade.

Wade had clearly lost a step from his glory days, or maybe two or three. He had an abysmal season for the struggling Cavaliers team, scoring a career-low 11.2 points per game. His athleticism was abandoning him, and as a result his free-throw attempts dropped and his finishing became inconsistent. The Cavs ended up sending him home to Miami just to clear the roster spot.

Worst Cavaliers free agent signings No. 12: Ed Davis, 2021

After winning just 22 games in the 2020-21 season, the Cavaliers made a number of moves that following summer that propelled them to a winning record the following season. Newcomers like Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen and Ricky Rubio played key roles in the Cavs’ success; unfortunately, Ed Davis did not.

Davis was signed to be the third-string center and veteran mentor to the group. Perhaps he accomplished the second, but he was terrible when pressed into service on the court. During a key stretch late in the season when Jarrett Allen was injured Davis was leaned on for a rotation role and he could not deliver, a significant reason why the team faltered in the final section of the season and dropped out of the playoffs entirely. He averaged just 0.9 points for the season and his NBA career appears to have ended with the Cavs.