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Cleveland Cavaliers: 15 NBA stars you forgot played for the Cavs

By Tony Pesta

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 4: Ben Wallace #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 4, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 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 Nick Laham/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 4: Ben Wallace #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 4, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 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 Nick Laham/Getty Images) /
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(Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) /

15. Luol Deng (2014)

After spending nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the middle of the 2013-14 NBA season.

Reaching back-to-back All-Star games in the two years prior, Deng was frustrated that the Bulls neglected to offer him a contract extension. For Chicago, the devasting injuries to former MVP, Derrick Rose, were enough to warrant a full rebuild. This meant the departure of Deng was a necessity.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers were looking to maintain flexibility heading into the summer. All indications pointed to Deng leaving at the season’s end. This trade allowed the Cavs to dump Andrew Bynum‘s $12 million contract and cleared extra space when they lost Deng in the summer.

As we know, this move paid dividends as the Cleveland Cavaliers wound up reclaiming LeBron James in the summer of 2014. In a weird and indirect way, the Cavs 2016 championship may have not been possible without Deng’s trade and departure opening up cap space.

During his brief time in Cleveland, Deng averaged a solid 14.3 points per game on 41.7 percent shooting. He served as a quality veteran presence to the developing Kyrie Irving but was never meant to be a longterm member of the roster.

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