The 10 Best Offseason Moves in Cleveland Cavaliers History

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been quiet this offseason, but in the past, they made their share of moves.

They have signed free agents, acquired players in a trade and they drafted some key players along the way. Some of the acquisitions moved the needle right away, while others took time. Regardless, the moves were made, and some of them led to great success.

So, with the offseason underway, it is a good time to revisit some of Cleveland's biggest moves.

LeBron James Returns

In 2003, the Cavs added a game-changing player. They drafted LeBron James, and the high-school phenom made an immediate impact. He won his first MVP award in 2009, and he went on to win three more throughout the years. His first two were with the Cavaliers, but his last ones were with the Miami Heat.

James joined the Heat after the 2009-10 season, and in his time with them, he won two championships. James' decision was met with backlash, and it led to fans burning jerseys as well as a letter from Dan Gilbert. However, the All-Star forward was welcomed with open arms when he returned to Cleveland.

James signed a two-year, $42 million deal with the Cavs, and he led the team to its first championship in 2016. His return was something special, and it helped the franchise end the dreaded "Cleveland Curse."

Now, the 2016 team has a special place in the heart of Cavs fans, and another star helped make it happen.

Cavs Acquire Kevin Love, Part Ways With No. 1 Pick

The Cavaliers went all-in when James returned, and they added an All-Star to play alongside him. They brought in Love, and they moved Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a draft pick to get him. Wiggins was the first pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, and Bennett went No. 1 the previous year.

Love averaged 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his first year with the Cavs. Then, he helped them win a championship a few years later, and he remained with the team until 2023. The 2011 Most Improved Player was a great addition, and he has a special place in Cavs history. Now, another player is trying to do the same.

Donovan Mitchell Trade Starts New Era

After James' departure, the Cavs went another rebuild. The star forward joined the Los Angeles Lakers, and they finished the season with a record of 37-45. Cleveland had a worse record, as the team finished 19-63. The team added different pieces in the next few years, and in 2022, they made a big move.

The Cavs added Donovan Mitchell, and they gave up Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji and multiple draft picks. Since then, Mitchell has established himself in Cleveland, and he could be the next star who leads the team to a championship. He is playing at a high level, and after coming up short in Cleveland's 2025-26 playoff run, the All-Star guard is motivated and ready to silence critics.

Mitchell is committed to Cleveland, and when it is all said and done, he will be one of the franchise's top players.

Cavs Draft Kyrie Irving

In 2011, the Cavs selected one of their best players. They drafted Kyrie Irving after finishing the previous season with a record of 19-63. The Cavaliers had the first pick of the 2011 draft, and they had another shortly after. Irving was their first choice, and they added Tristan Thompson wth the fourth pick.

Irving went on to win Rookie of the Year, and he captured the attention of others around the league. Eventually, he was joined by Love and James, and the trio won it all. Later on, Irving requested a trade and since then, he has made an impact on any team he has played for.

Cleveland "Wins" 1986 Draft

The 1986 NBA Draft was a significant time for Cleveland. The franchise finished the 1985-86 season with a record of 29-53, and that led to the first pick of the draft. Brad Daugherty, a Cavs legend, was the first pick of the draft, and the Cavaliers did not stop there. They drafted Ron Harper with the eighth pick, and they added Mark Price later on. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, but Cleveland acquired him in a draft-day trade.

All of these players helped the Cavs reach the playoffs, and two of the three had their jerseys retired. That was a crucial time for Cleveland, and that draft gave the franchise the spark it needed.

Cavaliers Add Big Z

Years later, the Cavs drafted another key player, as they selected Zydrunas Ilgauskas in 1996. He was a part of the same draft class as Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant and others, and before picking him, the Cavs selected someone else. They chose Vitaly Potapenko, and while he played a few seasons with the team, Ilgauskas stayed longer.

Ilgauskas was a frontcourt mate of James during the star's early seasons, and right before the forward came, the center averaged a career-high 17.2 points.

The international big was a two-time All-Star in his years with James, and after his playing days, the Cavs retired his jersey.

Shawn Kemp to Cleveland

Before the 1997-98 season, Cleveland added an exciting All-Star. They acquired Shawn Kemp in a three-team deal, and before that, he had some strong seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics. Kemp played three seasons with the Cavaliers, and in his second year, he averaged a career-high 20.5 points. In his first season, he helped the Cavs reach the playoffs.

Kemp was a big name, and while conditioning was a concern during the lockout season's training camp, he still made an impact.

Cavaliers Add Future Coach

The Cavs have had some legendary names, and one of them made an impact in multiple ways. Lenny Wilkens joined the Cavs in 1972, and before that, he played for the St. Louis Hawks and the Sonics. He was an All-Star by the time he came to Cleveland, and he won All-Star MVP in 1971.

When it came to his time in Cleveland, he played two seasons. He averaged 20.5 points in his first year, and 16.4 in his second. After that he played a season with the Portland Trail Blazers, and years later, he became the head coach of the Cavaliers. By that time he had plenty of coaching experience, as he was a player-coach for Seattle and Portland.

Wilkens is third on the all-time coaching wins list, and the Cavs made the playoffs five times during his tenure. He is a Cavalier legend, and the Cavs made a wise move when they brought him in.

Cleveland Brings In "Mr. Cavalier"

The Cavaliers had the No. 1 pick for the first time in 1971, and they drafted a high-scoring guard out of Notre Dame.

They brought in Austin Carr, and he spent most of his career with them. He averaged 21.9 points during the 1973-74 season, and he became an All-Star. He set the tone for Cleveland's future No. 1 picks, and he helped the Cavs reach the playoffs multiple times. Now, he has his jersey retired, and he is still involved with the city.

Cavs Add A Former Rival

During James' early years, the Cavs added several pieces. They were seeking players to pair alongside the forward, and one of them was acquired in a three-team trade. The Cavaliers brought in Mo Williams, and in his years with the Milwaukee Bucks, he had some strong performances against Cleveland.

When the Cavs acquired him, he became an All-Star. He averaged a career-high 17.8 points in his first season, and he played a career-high 81 games. He did well in his time with the team, and years later, he returned to Cleveland. Williams was a reserve in his second stint, and in the end, he received a championship.

Overall, Cleveland has had many players, and some of them made an impact. They added players like Larry Hughes, Shaquille O'Neal, and even Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade. While some moves worked out better than others, all of these names are a part of Cleveland history. Now, players like Evan Mobley and any new faces they add have a chance to do the same.

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