7 best undrafted talents to play for Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA teams are driven by stars, and stars are usually drafted near the top of the first round. The Cleveland Cavaliers know that better than anyone, winning the only title in franchise history on the play of two No. 1 overall picks, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

Not every player goes in the lottery, nor are they all drafted in any round. Some players go undrafted upon entering the league and face the uphill battle of finding a roster spot over players who were valued enough to be drafted. Yet often those players have the determination to not just survive but thrive. Here are seven undrafted players who made an impact in Cleveland.

Best undrafted Cavs player No. 7: Alonzo Gee

Alonzo Gee entered the league in the 2009 NBA Draft out of Alabama, but the 6’6″ swingman went undrafted. He caught on with the Minnesota Timberwolves but didn’t appear in a game, then signed a pair of two-way contracts with the Washington Wizards and appeared in 11 games. In his second season, he appeared with the San Antonio Spurs, the Wizards again, and finally finished out the year with the Cavaliers.

Gee carved out a home for himself in Cleveland, appearing in 250 games over four seasons. He became a full-time starter, a reliable option on the wing for a Cavs team without veteran talent after the departure of LeBron James (the first time). He played in and started in all 82 games in 2012-13, and in total started 166 of the 250 games he played in for Cleveland.

There was never a hidden star waiting to break out, but Gee played hard and was a decent finisher. He deserved to be drafted, and he found a place on the Cavs for a few seasons in the middle of his career.