Worst Starter No. 2 – DeAndre Liggins
Out of all 13 names on this list, the No. 2 player in our rankings of the worst starters may be the most obscure. Nearly all of the other players we have mentioned had an extended career in other stops, or at the least played a long time in Cleveland. DeAndre Liggins did neither.
The former Kentucky wing went 53rd overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, made a handful of appearances over three seasons, and then was out of the league for two years before signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in August of 2016.
Liggins was not good. His career arc probably speaks to that (he played for four teams in two years and then was gone for good) but he showed very little of any value as an NBA player while with the Cavaliers. In 62 games he shot 38.7 percent from the field, averaged 2.5 points per game and had 3.7 fouls and 2.0 turnovers per-36 minutes. His usage rate was in the second-percentile leaguewide, and the Cavaliers’ offense was 2.2 points per 100 possessions worse when he was on the court.
So why did the Cavaliers let him start 19 games? It was because of his defense. He was their best option against many of the top wings in the league. For every point he saved them on defense he gave it back on offense, but he had a role because he could defend. In the end, however, the Cavs needed a two-way player and waived Liggins prior to the end of that season.