Best draft picks in Cleveland Cavaliers history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, 黑料社 compiled a list of the best draft picks in Cleveland Cavaliers history using data from . Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's , career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their 黑料社 score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy r茅sum茅 for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. Gary Cole
- 黑料社 score: 1.2
- 50th overall pick in 1976
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 5.4 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
#49. Cedi Osman
- 黑料社 score: 1.3
- 31st overall pick in 2015
- Played six seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 3.0 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.6 win shares, -2.1 box plus/minus, -0.3 VORP
#48. Steve Patterson
- 黑料社 score: 1.4
- 18th overall pick in 1971
- Played five seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 4.4 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 4.8 win shares
#47. Shannon Brown
- 黑料社 score: 1.5
- 25th overall pick in 2006
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 1.9 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.2 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 1.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
#46. Dave Sorenson
- 黑料社 score: 1.6
- 26th overall pick in 1970
- Played three seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 8.1 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 5.4 win shares
#45. DeSagana Diop
- 黑料社 score: 1.7
- Eighth overall pick in 2001
- Played four seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 2.0 PTS, 3.7 REB, 0.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.8 win shares, -1.9 box plus/minus, 0.2 VORP
#44. Chucky Brown
- 黑料社 score: 1.7
- 43rd overall pick in 1989
- Played four seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 5.9 PTS, 3.1 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.0 win shares, -2.7 box plus/minus, -2.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1995 NBA Champ
#43. Chris Dudley
- 黑料社 score: 1.9
- 75th overall pick in 1987
- Played three seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 3.9 PTS, 6.2 REB, 0.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.2 win shares, -3.0 box plus/minus, -4.2 VORP
#42. Melvin Turpin
- 黑料社 score: 2.2
- Sixth overall pick in 1984
- Played three seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 8.5 PTS, 4.6 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.7 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 1.2 VORP
#41. Tyler Zeller
- 黑料社 score: 2.2
- 17th overall pick in 2012
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 6.9 PTS, 4.4 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.1 win shares, -2.0 box plus/minus, 0.0 VORP
#40. Kevin Restani
- 黑料社 score: 2.3
- 39th overall pick in 1974
- Played one season with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 6.2 PTS, 4.0 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.8 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 1.2 VORP
#39. Eddie Jordan
- 黑料社 score: 2.4
- 33rd overall pick in 1977
- Played one season with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 8.1 PTS, 1.9 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 8.8 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 3.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1982 NBA Champ
#38. Donald Royal
- 黑料社 score: 2.8
- 52nd overall pick in 1987
- Career averages: 6.3 PTS, 2.8 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.1 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 0.9 VORP
#37. Daniel Gibson
- 黑料社 score: 2.9
- 42nd overall pick in 2006
- Played seven seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 7.8 PTS, 2.0 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.0 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 2.4 VORP
#36. J.J. Hickson
- 黑料社 score: 3.0
- 19th overall pick in 2008
- Played three seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 9.5 PTS, 6.8 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 21.9 win shares, -1.8 box plus/minus, 0.5 VORP
#35. Darius Garland
- 黑料社 score: 3.1
- Fifth overall pick in 2019
- Played four seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 18.5 PTS, 2.6 REB, 6.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.8 win shares, -0.2 box plus/minus, 3.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#34. Evan Mobley
- 黑料社 score: 3.1
- Third overall pick in 2021
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 15.6 PTS, 8.7 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.7 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 4.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2022-23 All-Defensive
#33. Dwight Davis
- 黑料社 score: 3.4
- Third overall pick in 1972
- Played three seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.4 win shares
#32. John Bagley
- 黑料社 score: 3.7
- 12th overall pick in 1982
- Played five seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 2.6 REB, 6.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.6 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 4.5 VORP
#31. Ron Anderson
- 黑料社 score: 4.0
- 27th overall pick in 1984
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 10.6 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.2 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 2.6 VORP
#30. Joe Harris
- 黑料社 score: 4.4
- 33rd overall pick in 2014
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 10.5 PTS, 3.1 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.1 win shares, -0.6 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
#29. Roy Hinson
- 黑料社 score: 5.0
- 20th overall pick in 1983
- Played three seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 14.2 PTS, 6.8 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.2 win shares, -1.1 box plus/minus, 3.4 VORP
#28. Tristan Thompson
- 黑料社 score: 6.6
- Fourth overall pick in 2011
- Played nine seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 8.4 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.6 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
- Accolades
--- 2016 NBA Champ
#27. Jim Brewer
- 黑料社 score: 6.7
- Second overall pick in 1973
- Played six seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 5.8 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.3 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 8.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1982 NBA Champ
--- 2x All-Defensive
#26. Bob Sura
- 黑料社 score: 6.9
- 17th overall pick in 1995
- Played five seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 3.4 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 28.3 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 9.4 VORP
#25. Chris Mills
- 黑料社 score: 7.2
- 22nd overall pick in 1993
- Played four seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.7 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 6.8 VORP
#24. Johnny Newman
- 黑料社 score: 7.4
- 29th overall pick in 1986
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 11.0 PTS, 2.2 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.3 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 2.9 VORP
#23. Foots Walker
- 黑料社 score: 7.5
- 38th overall pick in 1974
- Played six seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 6.4 PTS, 2.6 REB, 4.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 31.0 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 10.2 VORP
#22. Brevin Knight
- 黑料社 score: 7.8
- 16th overall pick in 1997
- Played four seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 7.3 PTS, 2.4 REB, 6.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 32.6 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 10.5 VORP
#21. Campy Russell
- 黑料社 score: 8.0
- Eighth overall pick in 1974
- Played seven seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 15.8 PTS, 4.8 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.8 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 9.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#20. Mike Mitchell
- 黑料社 score: 8.2
- 15th overall pick in 1978
- Played four seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 19.8 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.2 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 5.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#19. Anderson Varej茫o
- 黑料社 score: 9.0
- 30th overall pick in 2004
- Played 13 seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 7.2 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 46.4 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 8.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2009-10 All-Defensive
#18. Matt Barnes
- 黑料社 score: 9.2
- 46th overall pick in 2002
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 4.6 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.8 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 10.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2017 NBA Champ
#17. Austin Carr
- 黑料社 score: 9.9
- First overall pick in 1971
- Played nine seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 15.4 PTS, 2.9 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 32.9 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#16. Derek Anderson
- 黑料社 score: 10.3
- 13th overall pick in 1997
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 12.0 PTS, 3.2 REB, 3.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 43.9 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 13.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2006 NBA Champ
#15. John Johnson
- 黑料社 score: 11.2
- Seventh overall pick in 1970
- Played three seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 12.9 PTS, 5.5 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.1 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1979 NBA Champ
--- 2x All Star
#14. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
- 黑料社 score: 12.0
- 20th overall pick in 1996
- Played 12 seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 13.0 PTS, 7.3 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 66.3 win shares, -0.2 box plus/minus, 10.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#13. Danny Green
- 黑料社 score: 13.4
- 46th overall pick in 2009
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 3.4 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 49.3 win shares, 1.9 box plus/minus, 20.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.4%
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- 2016-17 All-Defensive
#12. Dan Roundfield
- 黑料社 score: 15.3
- 28th overall pick in 1975
- Career averages: 14.3 PTS, 9.2 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 65.2 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 20.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1979-80 All-NBA
--- 5x All-Defensive
--- 3x All Star
#11. Hot Rod Williams
- 黑料社 score: 15.9
- 45th overall pick in 1985
- Played nine seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 11.0 PTS, 6.8 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 70.5 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 19.9 VORP
#10. Carlos Boozer
- 黑料社 score: 18.3
- 35th overall pick in 2002
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 16.2 PTS, 9.5 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 80.3 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 23.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2007-08 All-NBA
--- 2x All Star
#9. Brad Daugherty
- 黑料社 score: 18.3
- First overall pick in 1986
- Played eight seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 19.0 PTS, 9.5 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 65.2 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 21.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 15.6%
- Accolades
--- 1991-92 All-NBA
--- 5x All Star
#8. Terrell Brandon
- 黑料社 score: 19.9
- 11th overall pick in 1991
- Played six seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 13.8 PTS, 3.0 REB, 6.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 65.9 win shares, 3.6 box plus/minus, 30.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 5.7%
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#7. Ron Harper
- 黑料社 score: 20.1
- Eighth overall pick in 1986
- Played four seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 13.8 PTS, 4.3 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 65.8 win shares, 1.9 box plus/minus, 30.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 7.0%
- Accolades
--- 5x NBA Champ
#6. Mark Price
- 黑料社 score: 22.9
- 25th overall pick in 1986
- Played nine seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 15.2 PTS, 2.6 REB, 6.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 71.1 win shares, 3.7 box plus/minus, 31.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 18.3%
- Accolades
--- 4x All-NBA
--- 4x All Star
#5. Andre Miller
- 黑料社 score: 24.5
- Eighth overall pick in 1999
- Played three seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 12.5 PTS, 3.7 REB, 6.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 100.8 win shares, 1.3 box plus/minus, 33.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2001-02 AST Champ
#4. Kevin Johnson
- 黑料社 score: 28.0
- Seventh overall pick in 1987
- Played one season with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 17.9 PTS, 3.3 REB, 9.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 92.8 win shares, 3.9 box plus/minus, 37.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 19.1%
- Accolades
--- 5x All-NBA
--- 3x All Star
#3. Bill Laimbeer
- 黑料社 score: 28.0
- 65th overall pick in 1979
- Played two seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 12.9 PTS, 9.7 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 105.6 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 29.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 26.1%
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1985-86 TRB Champ
--- 4x All Star
#2. Kyrie Irving
- 黑料社 score: 38.7
- First overall pick in 2011
- Played six seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 23.4 PTS, 3.9 REB, 5.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 79.4 win shares, 4.5 box plus/minus, 37.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 93.5%
- Accolades
--- 2016 NBA Champ
--- 2011-12 ROY
--- 3x All-NBA
--- 2013-14 AS MVP
#1. LeBron James
- 黑料社 score: 100.0
- First overall pick in 2003
- Played 11 seasons with Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 27.2 PTS, 7.5 REB, 7.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 255.1 win shares, 8.8 box plus/minus, 146.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 100.0%
- Accolades
--- 4x NBA Champ
--- 4x MVP
--- 4x Finals MVP
--- 2007-08 Scoring Champ
