7 players the Cleveland Cavaliers gave up on too soon

5. The Cleveland Cavaliers gave up on Andre Miller too soon

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a major step down in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a dead zone between their top-notch core in the early 90s and the years of contention with LeBron James. During that span, the Cavs landed the eighth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft and used it on a point guard out of Utah named Andre Miller.

Miller made an impact right out of the bat, making an All-Rookie Team and averaging 15.8 points and 8 eighth rebounds in his second season, followed by 16.5 points and a league-leading 10.9 assists per game in his third year. That season, however, the Cavs finished just 29-53 and decided to shake things up in the offseason.

The LA Clippers had a young forward named Darius Miles, drafted right out of high school, and the Cavs decided to move their productive point guard in a trade for Miles. Jim Paxson, Cleveland’s general manager said “Darius Miles was the player we coveted in this deal. Sometimes you have to make bold moves to get better in the future.”

Paxson must have meant the distant future, because Darius Miles was an absolute bust the rest of his career. He lasted just 104 games before the Cavs shipped him off to Portland, and he won’t show up on this list. He was so bad he helped Cleveland tank to the bottom of the standings and land LeBron James; perhaps Paxson was playing three-dimensional chess?

What was Miller doing this entire time? Simply growing into one of the most reliable point guards of his generation, facilitating really good offenses as one of the league’s best passers. For his career, Miller ranks 12th in career assists. The Cavs gave up on Miller for the flashy potential of a complete bust.