Cleveland Cavaliers Dream Team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the game

being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that players

from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided to defy

those odds. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team

along with the Portland Trailblazers and Buffalo Braves. Throughout the

franchise’s history, the Cavaliers have yo-yoed between being a lottery team

and one that reaches the postseason and contends for championships. The

franchise has reached five NBA Finals, getting swept by the San Antonio

Spurs in 2007. The Cavaliers reached four straight NBA Finals from

2015-2018, all against the Golden State Warriors. The Cavs lost three of

the four matchups with the lone winning coming in 2016. The Cavs

became the first team in NBA history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win an

NBA Finals. The title was Cleveland’s first in a major sport since the NFL’s

Cleveland Browns won the NFL Title in 1964. 

Today, I put together a Cavaliers Dream Team. There are some rigid criteria

in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have played for the

Cavs for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions. Since the free agency

era began 30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals

don’t make this list. This roster is all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team. This is

basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is the first

consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number of All-NBA

seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping immensely.

While I understand it is hard to compare eras, I’m not going to convolute

this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Cavs during a season of being a championship contender does

not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on the Cavs during a

bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on this team. Winning or losing

eras, all high-level performers get considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into positionless

basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players encompassing all eras. The

starting lineup will be position specific, after that it will be the best of the rest

with four years playing for the franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t just tell

me he should be there and why, tell me who you would remove. Before you

make a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the

list at that position?”

Starting five

Point guard: Kyrie Irving

Irving’s 3-point shot that buoyed the Cavs to a seven-game upset victory

over the heavily-favored Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA finals.

Irving, who is now a Brooklyn Net, was a point guard who could be a

facilitator but he was also a prolific scorer.

During his time with the Cavaliers, Irving averaged 21.6 points, 5.6 assists

and 3.6 rebounds per game. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2012

with four of his six All-Star appearances coming in a Cavaliers uniform.

Irving helped the Cavaliers reach four consecutive NBA championships. 

Shooting guard: Austin Carr

Much of Carr’s legacy is “what could have been” because knee injuries

ended up limiting what could have been a great career. Carr, however,

established enough of a body of work to deserve a starting lineup spot on

this team.

Carr was NBA All Rookie first team in 1972 and an NBA All-Star in 1974.

For his career, Carr averaged 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists

during his career with the Cavaliers. He is known these days as a color

commentator for Cavalier games. 

Small forward: LeBron James

While it can be debated whether or not James is the best player ever to play

the game, he deserves to be in the conversation. His 11 years with the

Cavaliers covered two stints, the first of which brought extended postseason

success including an NBA Finals appearance. The second of which included

four straight trips to the NBA Finals with the title being delivered in 2016.

During his career with three different teams, James has averaged 27.2 points,

7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.

James, who recently led the Los Angeles Lakers to their 17th NBA

championship, is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career with four

NBA championships, four NBA Finals MVPs, for NBA MVPs, 16 NBA

All-Star appearances, 13 All NBA first-team selections, and 5 NBA All-

Defensive first-team selections. 

Power forward: Larry Nance

You could make a case for Kevin Love to be the starting power forward but

Nance gets the odd ever-so-slightly. Nance is better known for his time with

the Phoenix Suns but he was tremendous as a Cavalier. Nance is best known

for his athletic dunking skills.  

Nance finished his career with the Cavaliers as the No. 3 all-time leader in

blocked shots and also averaged 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in

seven years with the Cavs. Two of his three All-Star appearances came in a

Cleveland uniform along with his NBA All Defensive first-team honors in

1989. 

Center: Brad Daugherty

If not for a back injury shortening his career, Daugherty could have been a

Hall of Famer. Nonetheless his career achieved enough of a body of work to

be the starting center in this lineup. Daugherty was the No. 1 overall pick in

the 1986 draft and was part of Cavalier teams that were consistent contenders

throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. 

At the time of his retirement, Daugherty was the franchise's all-time leading

scorer and rebounder. James has since broken his scoring record as of 2008.

Daugherty was a five-time NBA All-Star in his nine seasons with the

Cavaliers. Throughout his career he averaged 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds

and 3.7 assists per game.

Bench (alphabetical order)

Terrell Brandon:

Brandon's numbers with the Cavaliers are actually deflated because three of

his six years were spent as a backup to Mark Price. Brandon, however, shined

when he had the chance. He blossomed into a two-time All-Star. During his

six seasons with the Cavaliers, Brandon averaged 12.7 points and 4.9 assists

per game. His final two seasons he averaged nearly 20 points her game to go

along with six assists.

Jim Chones:

Chones was a force on the front line. He averaged a double-double and two

seasons for the Cavaliers. His foot injury in the 1976 playoffs cost the Cavaliers

a realistic chance at a title that season. Chones never averaged less than 8.

4 rebounds per game. During his career with the Cavaliers, five seasons, he

averaged 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

World B. Free:

His birth name was Lloyd Bernard Free but became known as World B. Free

because he was known as “The Prince of Midair” as well as “All World.” Free

played for five different teams but during his time with the Cavaliers he

averaged 23.0 points per game. Free was the master at going one-on-one

with defenders and lofting up high arcing shots. 

Zydrunas Ilgauskas:

You could make a case for Ilgauskas to be the starting center on this team

because similar to Daugherty, injuries kept him from being what he could

have been. Despite a multitude of foot and ankle injuries, early in his career

Ilgauskas was able to establish enough of a body of work to land a spot on

this team. Ilgauskas is a two-time All-Star and is the Cavaliers all-time leader

in blocked shots. He averaged 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks shots

for games with the Cavaliers.

Kevin Love:

Love is underappreciated in that he is often viewed as the third wheel for the

Cavaliers stretch of reaching for consecutive NBA Finals. Love, however,

was no less important during that run. Despite the Cavaliers rebuild, Love

remains with the franchise. During his time with the Cavaliers, Love has

averaged a double-double with 17.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. 

Mike Mitchell:

Mitchell played just four seasons with the Cavaliers and most of his career

with the San Antonio Spurs. Mitchell, however, enjoyed some productive

years with the Cavaliers. He averaged a double-double with 19.2 points per

game and 12.2 rebounds. His per game scoring average still ranks fifth in

franchise history for anybody who has played over 200 career games with

Cleveland.

Mark Price:

Price is one of the most underrated point guards of his generation, if not in

NBA history. He was a tremendous 3-point shooter and free throw shooter

as well. All four of Price's All-Star appearances came as a member of the

Cavaliers. He is third all time in NBA history in free throw shooting

percentage at 90.4%. As a Cavalier, Price averaged 16.4 points and 7.2 assists

per game. 

Michael “Campy” Russell:

Russell played seven seasons with the Cavaliers and was an All-Star in 1979.

During that season he averaged 21.9 points per game. For his career in

Cleveland, Russell compiled a scoring average of 16.1 points and 5.1

rebounds per game. In his first season, 1976, Russell helped the Cavaliers to

their first winning season and first playoff appearance in franchise history.

That season the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals before

losing to the Boston Celtics. 

Robert “Bingo” Smith:

Smith got the name “Bingo” so as to avoid confusion with two players

named Bobby Smith that he played with at Tulane. This was one of the

Cavaliers first true superstars and helped transform the franchise from an

expansion team into one that reached the playoffs. During his 10 seasons

with the Cavaliers, Smith averaged 13.3 points per game.

John “Hot Rod” Williams:

Williams earned the nickname “Hot Rod” because of making engine-like

noises during games. Though Williams never earned any All Star

recognition, he had nine impactful seasons with the Cavaliers while being

Eastern Conference Champion contenders in the late 80s and early 90s. He

was NBA All Rookie second team in 1987. As a Cavalier, he averaged

12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. 

Head coach: Lenny Wilkens

The case could be made for Tyronn Lue, who delivered the franchise’s

only championship, he only lasted for less than four years. Mike Brown

could also be a candidate but it's hard to go against Wilkens, who was a

Hall of Fame player who turned into a Hall of Fame coach, which is a

rare feat. Wilkens is not only one of the best coaches in NBA history but

the best in franchise history. Wilkens took over a team that won just 31

games in his first season and turned them into a playoff team five of the

next six years. Wilkens remains the winningest coach in franchise history.

The biggest problem his Cavalier teams faced were the Detroit Pistons

and the Chicago Bulls. 

Team: 2015-2016

Lue took over for David Blatt, who was fired at midseason, and the franchise

won they're only championship. This title, however, was not just for the

franchise it was for the entire city of Cleveland, which had not won a

championship in a major sport in 52 years. The three-point shot by Irving

in Game 7 to defeat, becoming the only team in NBA Finals history to

overcome a 3-1 deficit, the Golden State Warriors will forever be

remembered. Though the Warriors got the better of the Cavaliers and three

out of those four seasons, 2016 remains a special time for Cleveland sports

fans. That Warrior team won an NBA record 73 games in the regular season. 

Detroit Pistons Dream Team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the

game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that

players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have

decided to defy those odds. 

The Detroit Pistons entered the NBA in 1941 as the Fort Wayne

Pistons before moving to Detroit in 1957. The Pistons reached back-

to-back NBA Finals. Losing to the Syracuse Nationals and

Philadelphia Warriors. The first 20 years in Detroit were mostly

dormant. The franchise’s fortunes changed with the hiring of Chuck

Daley as head coach along with the drafting of Isiah Thomas, Joe

Dumars and Dennis Rodman. The trades to acquire Bill Laimbeer,

Rick Mahorn and Vinnie Johnson were also crucial. 

The Pistons of that era were known as the “Bad Boys” because their

intimidating style of play was the NBA’s version of the Oakland

Raiders. 

After falling short to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference

Finals (1987) and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals (1988), the

Pistons won back-to-back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990, defeating the

Lakers and Portland Trailblazers respectively. 

Between 1992-2000, the Pistons endured another era of dormancy

before experiencing another rise from 2000-2008. The Pistons reached

back-to-back NBA Finals in 2004 and 2005, defeating the heavily

favored Lakers 4-1 and losing 4-3 to the San Antonio Spurs. Since

2008, the franchise has endured ownership changes and a lot of

rebuilding. 

Today, I put together a Pistons Dream Team. There are some rigid criteria

in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have played for the

Pistons for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions. Since the free

agency era began 30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-

year rentals don’t make this list. This roster is all-encompassing from all

eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team. This is

basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is the first

consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number of All-

NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping

immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare eras, I’m not going

to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

For openers, 1989, 1990 and 2004 are not the only seasons the NBA

existed. Being on the Pistons during a season of being a championship

contender does not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on

the Pistons during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on this

team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into positionless

basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players encompassing all eras.

The starting lineup will be position specific, after that it will be the best

of the rest with four years playing for the franchise being the first

requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t just

tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would remove.

Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself, “Who

do I take off the list at that position?”

Starting lineup

Point guard: Isaiah Thomas

There is not a more iconic and influential player in franchise history than

Thomas. Though he is not mentioned among the game's all-time greats,

Thomas' impact on the Pistons franchise and the NBA is unmistakable.

The Pistons were known for harassing defense but Thomas and Joe

Dumars formed one of the best offensive backcourts in NBA history.

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Thomas led the Pistons two

consecutive NBA championships and NBA Finals MVP in 1990. He

was a 12-time All-Star. He was also a two-time NBA All-Star game

MVP. Thomas was also five-time All NBA (three as a first-teamer). For

his career, all with the Pistons, Thomas averaged 19.2 points, 9.3 assists

per game. 

Shooting guard: Joe Dumars

Dumars was the perfect sidekick with Thomas informing one of the best

backcourts in NBA history on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Dumars’

finest hour was in the 1989 NBA Finals when he averaged 27.3 points

per game on the way to earning NBA Finals MVP honors. Dumars was

versatile enough to play both point guard and shooting guard.

Dumars spent his entire career with the Pistons and helped them win

consecutive NBA championships. Dumars was a six-time All-Star. He

was also a four-time All NBA Defensive first team. Dumars also made

an immediate splash in earning NBA All Rookie first team honors in

1986.

Small forward: Grant Hill

Hill had a Hall of Fame career that could have been better if ankle

injuries did not beset him. Hill was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1994

NBA draft. Though he was a small forward by trade, Hill was an excellent

all-around player who could also play the game like a point guard.

Five of Hill's seven All Star appearances came as a Piston. He was five-time

All NBA (one as a first-teamer). Hill was also the NBA co-Rookie of the

Year in 1994 along with Chris Webber and NBA All Rookie first team. He

was the three-time NBA Sportsmanship Award winner. In a Pistons uniform,

Hill averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. 

Power forward: Dennis Rodman

Rodman was nicknamed “The Worm” and also one of the best defensive

players in NBA history and perhaps the best rebounder ever. Rodman was

one of the faces of the Pistons during the “Bad Boys” era that helped deliver

two NBA championships. Besides his statistical impact, Rodman was an

irritant for opponents.

Both of Rodman's All-Star appearances came with the Pistons. He was also

a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, both also with the Pistons.

For his career, Rodman was a seven-time NBA All Defensive first-team

selection and was the NBA rebounding champion seven times on the way

to a Hall of Fame career. In a Pistons uniform, Rodman averaged 8.8 points

and 11.5 rebounds per game.

Center: Bob Lanier

Though team success was elusive during Lanier's time with the Pistons, he

is undoubtedly the starter on this team. The Pistons made the postseason just

four times and won just one series. Lanier's frequent knee injuries kept him

from having an even better career but he still had a Hall of Fame career. 

Seven of Lanier's eight All-Star Seasons came with the Pistons. He was also

NBA All-Star MVP in 1974 and NBA All Rookie first team in 1971. Lanier's

jersey number is retired by both the Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks, for whom

he later played. During his career with the Pistons, Lanier averaged 22.7

points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals.

Bench (alphabetical order)

Chauncey Billups:

Billups was well-traveled and playing for seven different NBA teams but his

most impactful set of years were his eight seasons with the Pistons. He led

Detroit to the Eastern Conference's best record in 2002 and back-to-back

NBA Finals appearances in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, he led the Pistons to

an NBA Finals upset victory over the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers.

Three of Billups’ All-Star Seasons came with the Pistons. While playing

for Detroit, Billups averaged 16.5 points and 6.2 assists per game.

Dave Bing:

Bing played nine of his 12 NBA Seasons with the Pistons on the way to a

Hall of Fame career. Six of his seven career All Star seasons also came as a

member of the Pistons. Then was also three-time All NBA (two as a first-

teamer) and was NBA Rookie of the Year in 1967. Bing was also the NBA

scoring champion in 1968. During his time with the Pistons, Bing played

both shooting guard and point guard averaging 22.6 points per game and

6.4 assists per contest. 

Andre Drummond:

Drummond is now a Cleveland Cavalier but spent eight highly productive

seasons with the Pistons. Drummond had four seasons where he scored at

least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 1,000 blocked shots and 100 steals,

the most in NBA history since steals and blocked shots were recorded in

1973-74. Drummond is also one of two players along with Charles Barkley

and George McGinnis to record at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in a

game. Drummond was a two-time All-Star with the Pistons and averaged

14.4 points and 13.9 rebounds per game.

Larry Foust:

This selection is like taking a step back in time because Foust's career with

the Pistons predates the Detroit years. He played eight seasons with the Fort

Wayne Pistons before the franchise moved to Detroit. Six of his eight All-

Star seasons were with the Pistons. He was also the NBA's leading rebounder

in 1952. Foust used his size and strength to stifle opponents. During his time

with the Pistons, Foust averaged 15.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

Richard Hamilton: 

Hamilton played 14 seasons in the NBA but his nine with the Pistons are

what defines him the most. Hamilton was a solid defensive player and scorer.

He helped the Pistons two consecutive NBA Finals appearances, including an

upset victory over the Lakers in 2004. Hamilton was a three-time All-Star

and had his jersey retired with the Pistons. During his time in Detroit,

Hamilton averaged 18.4 points and 3.4 assists per game.

Vinnie Johnson:

Johnson was nicknamed “The Microwave” for his ability to score a lot of points

in a short period of time. Johnson was also versatile in that he could play point

guard and shooting guard. When the Pistons went to three guard lineups with

Thomas, Dumars and Johnson, it was a solid scoring unit to go along with

their stifling defense. Johnson, whose jersey is retired with the Pistons, never

earned any All Star recognition but was vital to the franchise winning two of

their three NBA championships.

Bill Laimbeer:

Laimbeer was liked by teammates and loathed by opponents. Though other

players were more skilled, Laimbeer was one of the original “Bad Boys” who

brought a physical brand of defense and on offense was one of the best

shooting big men of his era. Laimbeer was a four-time All-Star and helped

the Pistons win back-to-back NBA championships. During his time with the

Pistons, Laimbeer averaged 13.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and had

his jersey retired by the franchise.

Tayshaun Prince:

Prince was an underrated but important cog in the Pistons mid-2000s success

that included consecutive trips to the NBA Finals including the aforementioned

2004 victory. Prince was a very solid defender as evidenced by being four-time

NBA All Defense. During his 10 seasons with the Pistons, Prince averaged

12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. 

Ben Wallace:

Wallace is one of the best defensive players and undrafted ones in NBA history.

Wallace remains the Pistons all-time leader in career blocked shots. Wallace was

a very vital cog in the Pistons mid-2000s success that included consecutive

trips to the NBA finals including a 2004 championship. All four of his All-

Star appearances came in a Pistons uniform. He is also a four-time NBA

Defensive Player of the Year, a record he shares with Dikembe Mutombo.

Wallace, who had his jersey retired by the Pistons, averaged 6.6 points, 11.1

rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game. 

Rasheed Wallace:

Though he was more statistically prolific during his years as a Portland

Trailblazer, Wallace also had six impactful Seasons with the Pistons including

helping them to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances in the 2000s

including the aforementioned 2004 Championship. Two of Wallace's All-Star

appearances came with the Pistons. During his time in Detroit, Wallace

averaged 13.4 points and 7.2 rebounds. 

Head coach: Chuck Daly

Very easy choice and it's really not even remotely debatable. On the way to

a Hall of Fame career, Daly led the Pistons to 467 victories and two NBA

championships back-to-back in 1989 and 1990. Daly's biggest strength was

managing the strong personalities that those Pistons teams had. In Daly's

nine seasons, the Pistons averaged 52 wins per season and never won fewer

than 46. Before his arrival, the Pistons never had back-to-back winning

seasons. The Pistons reached the playoffs every season during Daly’s

tenure (1983-1992).

Team: 1988-1989

Though a case could be made for any of the three Pistons teams the one

NBA championships, this one gets the nod. Buoyed by losing to the

Lakers in seven games the previous year in the NBA finals, this Pistons

team played with a hard edge throughout the entire season and nothing

was going to stop them. The Pistons of this ilk were known for their

rugged defense but they also had one of the best backcourts in NBA

history. The Pistons came back the next season and ran roughshod through

the NBA and swept the Lakers the following year in the finals. Granted,

that Laker team had become depleted with injuries but with this Pistons

team being so determined to win the championship perhaps they still win.