Ranking the Best 5 Draft Picks in Cleveland Cavaliers History

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a lucky team in the NBA draft.  Since the creation of the draft lottery in 1985, the Cavaliers have won the lottery four times, more than any team in the league.

However, luck is only one part of drafting.  The decision-makers in the front office still have to choose the right players.  One correct pick can lead a team to championship aspirations, while one blown selection can lead the team to the bottom of the standings for many seasons.  

Luckily for the Cavaliers, they have made some excellent draft choices throughout the years and hope that tradition of successful drafting continues into the future.

Honorable Mentions

Carlos Boozer

Selected: Second round, No. 34 overall, 2002 NBA draft

Carlos Boozer was an absolute steal for the Cavaliers in the second round.  While he only played two seasons in Cleveland, he averaged a very impressive 12.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Terrell Brandon

Selected: First round, No. 11 overall, 1991 NBA draft

Terrell Brandon is one of the forgotten stars of the 1990s.  The two-time All-Star point guard spent six seasons in Cleveland but saw his promising career derailed by injuries.  

John "Hot Rod" Williams

Selected: Second round, No. 45 overall, 1985 NBA draft

Williams was a key contributor on the very successful Cavaliers teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s, averaging 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in nine seasons in Cleveland.  

5. Kyrie Irving

Selected: First round, No. 1 overall, 2011 NBA draft

This ranking may be premature, but Kyrie Irving has already exceeded the high expectations that come with being the first pick in the NBA draft.  The 2012 Rookie of the Year and 2013 All-Star has many seasons to prove that this placement is no fluke and ascend higher into the rankings.

Even with only two seasons under his belt, Irving has proven to be one of the best Cavaliers draft selections.  

4. Brad Daugherty

Selected: First round, No. 1 overall, 1986 NBA draft

The Cavaliers won the second-ever NBA draft lottery and chose Daugherty first overall in 1986.  The center out of the University of North Carolina played all eight of his NBA seasons in Cleveland, averaging 19 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.  

The five-time All-Star led the Cavaliers to the playoffs on five occasions, including an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1992.  Daugherty's No. 43 jersey was retired by the team in 1997.  

3. Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Selected: First round, No. 20 overall, 1996 NBA draft

While the 1996 NBA draft is remembered for bringing in legends such as Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Steve Nash, a little-known Lithuanian ended up making a larger impact in the league than most would have expected.  

Ilgauskas came to the NBA in 1997, making the All-Rookie First Team after his first season.  Injuries hampered his early years in Cleveland, but he bounced back to become a two-time All-Star.  

"Big Z" is also the Cavaliers' career leader in games, rebounds and blocks.  Not bad for the 20th overall pick.  

2. Mark Price

Selected: Second round, No. 25 overall, 1986 NBA draft

While Daugherty made waves as the first pick in the 1986 draft, the Cavaliers also got another impact player with their second-round selection.  Mark Price slipped out of the first round due to questions about his height, but he proved his doubters wrong during his 12-year career, nine of which were spent in Cleveland.

The four-time All-Star averaged 16.4 points and 7.2 assists while a Cavalier, earning All-NBA Third Team honors twice and making the All-NBA First Team in 1993. 

The point guard is the Cavaliers' all-time leader in three-pointers made and had his No. 25 jersey retired by the club.  

1. LeBron James

Selected: First round, No. 1 overall, 2003 NBA draft

Even if the choice was obvious at the time, LeBron James is the best draft pick in Cleveland Cavaliers history.  The Cavaliers' career leader in points and steals won two MVP awards while in Cleveland, averaging 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists in seven seasons.  

This is evidence that sometimes the most obvious choice is the best one.  For the Cavaliers, selecting LeBron James was the best move they have ever made in the NBA draft.