The 2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 47th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). For the first time in franchise history, the Cavaliers entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the NBA Finals where they came back from a 3–1 deficit, becoming the first team in NBA Finals history to do so. The Cavaliers also broke the record of most made three-pointers in a regular season game with 25 against the Atlanta Hawks.[1]
| 2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers season | |
|---|---|
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Tyronn Lue |
| General manager | David Griffin |
| Owner(s) | Dan Gilbert |
| Arena | Quicken Loans Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 51–31 (.622) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 2nd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Warriors 1–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | Fox Sports Ohio |
| Radio | |
The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a 51–31 record, securing the 2nd seed. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated and swept the Indiana Pacers in four games in the First Round, advancing to the Semi-finals. They then defeated and swept the Toronto Raptors in four games, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals. They defeated the Boston Celtics in five games to advance to the NBA Finals for the third straight season. In the 2017 NBA Finals, the Cavaliers faced off against the Golden State Warriors for the third consecutive year, becoming the first two teams to meet three consecutive times in the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers would lose in five games against the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
After the season, David Griffin left as general manager and after hearing about trade rumors, most notably a 3-team deal that was confirmed by team and league sources that would've sent Paul George and Eric Bledsoe to the Cavaliers and Kyrie Irving and Channing Frye to the Phoenix Suns, Irving, not being content about the situation and per his request, was traded to the Boston Celtics[2] for Jae Crowder, Isaiah Thomas, Ante Žižić, a 2018 1st round draft pick (Collin Sexton was later selected), and a 2020 2nd round draft pick (Skylar Mays was later selected) was added as compensation for Isaiah Thomas's injury.[3][4][5] This trade ended the superteam era of the Cavaliers.[6][3][7]
Offseason
Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 54* | Kay Felder[a] | PG |  United States | Oakland |
- Notes
Roster
| 2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standings
Division
| Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Cleveland Cavaliers | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 31–10 | 20–21 | 8–8 | 82 |
| x – Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 9.0 | 23–18 | 19–22 | 10–6 | 82 |
| x – Indiana Pacers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 9.0 | 29–12 | 13–28 | 8–8 | 82 |
| x – Chicago Bulls | 41 | 41 | .500 | 10.0 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 9–7 | 82 |
| Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 14.0 | 24–17 | 13–28 | 5–11 | 82 |
Conference
| Eastern Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c – Boston Celtics * | 53 | 29 | .646 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y – Cleveland Cavaliers * | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
| 3 | x – Toronto Raptors | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
| 4 | y – Washington Wizards * | 49 | 33 | .598 | 4.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x – Atlanta Hawks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 10.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x – Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 11.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x – Indiana Pacers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 11.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x – Chicago Bulls | 41 | 41 | .500 | 12.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Miami Heat | 41 | 41 | .500 | 12.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 16.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Charlotte Hornets | 36 | 46 | .439 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 12 | New York Knicks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 22.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Orlando Magic | 29 | 53 | .354 | 24.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 25.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Brooklyn Nets | 20 | 62 | .244 | 33.0 | 82 |
Game log
Preseason
| 2016 pre-season game log Total: 2–4 (home: 2–2; road: 0–2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-season: 2–4 (home: 2–2; road: 0–2)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–17 season schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular season
Playoffs
| 2017 playoff game log Total: 13–5 (home: 6–2; road: 7–3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 1–1; road: 3–0)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 playoff schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transactions
Trades
| June 23, 2016 | To Cleveland Cavaliers Draft rights to Kay Felder[9][10] | To Atlanta Hawks Cash considerations |
| July 7, 2016 | To Cleveland Cavaliers Draft rights to Albert Miralles[11] | To Milwaukee Bucks Matthew Dellavedova (sign and trade) Cash considerations |
| July 7, 2016 | To Cleveland Cavaliers Mike Dunleavy Jr.[12] Draft rights to Vladimir Veremeenko | To Chicago Bulls Draft rights to Albert Miralles |
| July 15, 2016 | To Cleveland Cavaliers Draft rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum[13] | To Philadelphia 76ers Sasha Kaun Cash considerations |
| January 7, 2017 | To Cleveland Cavaliers Kyle Korver[14] | To Atlanta Hawks Mike Dunleavy Jr. Mo Williams 2019 protected 1st-round draft pick Cash considerations |
| February 13, 2017 | To Cleveland Cavaliers 2017 Charlotte protected 2nd-round pick[15] | To Charlotte Hornets Chris Andersen Cash considerations |
Free agency
Re-signed
| Player | Signed |
|---|---|
| Richard Jefferson[16] | 2-year contract worth $5 million |
| James Jones[17] | 1-year contract worth $1.55 million |
| LeBron James[18] | 3-year contract worth $100 million |
| J. R. Smith[19] | 4-year contract worth $57 million |
Additions
| Player | Signed | Former team |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Andersen[20] | 1-year contract worth $1.55 million | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Derrick Williams[21] | Miami Heat | |
| Deron Williams[22] | 1-year contract worth $410,733 | Dallas Mavericks |
| Andrew Bogut[23] | 1-year contract worth $383,351 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Larry Sanders[24] | Milwaukee Bucks |
Subtractions
| Player | Reason left | New team |
|---|---|---|
| Timofey Mozgov[25] | 4-year contract worth $64 million | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Jordan McRae[26] | Waived | |
| Andrew Bogut | Waived | |
| DeAndre Liggins[27] | Waived | Dallas Mavericks |
| Larry Sanders | Waived |
Notes
References
🔥 Top keywords: Main PageSpecial:SearchIndian Premier LeagueWikipedia:Featured picturesPornhubUEFA Champions League2024 Indian Premier LeagueFallout (American TV series)Jontay PorterXXXTentacionAmar Singh ChamkilaFallout (series)Cloud seedingReal Madrid CFCleopatraRama NavamiRichard GaddDeaths in 2024Civil War (film)Shōgun (2024 miniseries)2024 Indian general electionJennifer PanO. J. SimpsonElla PurnellBaby ReindeerCaitlin ClarkLaverne CoxXXX (film series)Facebook2023–24 UEFA Champions LeagueYouTubeCandidates Tournament 2024InstagramList of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finalsJude BellinghamMichael Porter Jr.Andriy LuninCarlo AncelottiBade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024 film)