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Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 biggest steals in Cavs draft history

By Ryan Piers

LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 13: Sophomore player Carlos Boozer #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks against the Freshman team during the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge, a part of the 2004 NBA All-Star Weekend at The Staples Center on February 13, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The sophomores won 142-118. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 13: Sophomore player Carlos Boozer #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks against the Freshman team during the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge, a part of the 2004 NBA All-Star Weekend at The Staples Center on February 13, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The sophomores won 142-118. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Carlos Boozer

Carlos Boozer falling to the early second round in 2002 was a gift for Cleveland. Starting 35 games, he averaged 18.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest his junior year at Duke.

It’s a bit apples-to-oranges, but fellow Blue Devils big man Wendell Carter Jr. put up 13.5 points and 9.1 rebounds a game and was drafted seventh overall in 2018.

Boozer surpassed the league’s expectations, averaging a double-double for four straight seasons with the Utah Jazz while qualifying for two All-Star teams. That’s while playing in the Western Conference when post players were at a historic premium.

Boozer played two seasons with the Cavaliers, averaging 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds during his second year. That was LeBron James‘ rookie year. Boozer, just 22, looked to be long-term complementary piece to Cleveland’s young phenom.

Instead, the Cavs let him become a unrestricted free agent, believing he’d re-sign for six years and $39 million. The Jazz offered more money. The Cavs blamed Boozer for not honoring an agreement. Boozer said there was no deal.

In the end, he joined forces with Deron Williams to usher in another era of Jazz relevance.

Boozer’s abrupt departure from Cleveland left, maybe, the most “what ifs” of the first LeBron era. Had he and his 21.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game been around in 2007-08, does Cleveland get past the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals?

Would he and LeBron have been enough to win the Cavs a championship a decade sooner? Maybe James and Boozer join forces with a star in Cleveland and those Miami Heat teams never happen. We do know one thing: Boozer’s retirement beard is incredible.

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