Born as an expansion team in 1970, the Cleveland Cavaliers are a relatively young NBA franchise. Since then, several talented players have worn the Wine and Gold. In this piece, we'll take a look back at the team's best free agent signings.
6. Anthony Parker
Parker joined the Cavs in the later stages of his career, signing a two-year, $6 million deal in 2009. At the time, Cleveland was looking to build a solid supporting cast around LeBron James, and Parker fit that bill.
Alongside other free agent signings like Shaquille O'Neal and Antawn Jamison, the Cavs won 61 games in their 2009-10 campaign. Parker played in 81 games that season, averaging 7.3 points and 2.9 rebounds.
5. Larry Hughes
Hughes signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Cavs as a free agent in the summer of 2005. Like Anthony Parker, Hughes was brought to the team in an effort to build around LeBron James, who was just emerging as a superstar at that time.
Hughes, an NBA All Defensive First Team selection in 2005, was a solid option for the Cavaliers. Prior to injuring his finger, he averaged 16.2 points and 37.6 minutes per game.
4. Iman Shumpert
“Shump,” as he's known, came to the Cavs from the New York Knicks as part of a three-team trade in 2015 — the same deal that brought J.R. Smith to Cleveland. Shumpert would later re-sign with the team on a four-year, $40 million contract as a restricted free agent.
Shumpert gave the Cavs several options. He was a hound on the defensive end of the floor, but he also had the ability to play some point guard on offense. In fact, then-head coach Tyronn Lue used the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket as a backup point guard at times during the 2016-17 campaign.
Though he'll likely be remembered for his flat top hairstyle, Shumpert should also be recognized as one of the better free agent signings in Cavaliers history. After all, he was a part of the team's championship run in 2016.
3. Tristan Thompson
Thompson became a restricted free agent following the 2013-14 season. The former No. 4 overall pick would later re-sign with the Cavs on a five-year, $82 million contract, ending a four-month contract stalemate.
“Double T,” as he's known, is the longest-tenured member of the current Cavaliers roster. He's been with the team since they drafted him in 2011.
On the glass, there are few better. And when it comes to durability, Thompson is an iron man. In fact, he owns the franchise record for consecutive games played (447).
2. Kevin Love
Love came to the Cavs in 2014 as part of a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. After helping Cleveland post a 53-29 overall record that season, the former UCLA standout decided to re-sign with the team.
Love announced that he would be re-signing with the Cavs in a first person essay for The Players' Tribune, noting that he had “unfinished business” to attend to. Cleveland had just lost to the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.
Alongside Tristan Thompson, Love gave the Cavaliers a formidable rebounding tandem in the paint, and his three-point shooting was a big part of the team's championship run in 2016.
“Yeah, of course I've heard the free agency rumors. But at the end of the day, and after meeting with my teammates (it turns out pools are great meeting places) and with the front office, it was clear Cleveland was the place for me,” Love wrote in his announcement, via sbnation.com.
1. LeBron James
Our No. 1 free agent signing for the Cavs should come as no surprise: LeBron James, Cleveland's hometown hero.
After playing out his rookie contract with the Cavaliers, James decided to “take his talents to South Beach” and play for the Miami Heat. This move angered a lot of fans in Cleveland. In fact, some openly burned James' jersey as s sign of their displeasure.
James went on to claim his first two championships in the four seasons he spent with the Heat. Then, in 2014, the former No. 1 overall pick announced that he was “Coming Home.” He opted out of his contract with Miami on June 25, 2014. Less than a month later, he announced his intentions of returning to Northeast Ohio.
“I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland,” James wrote in his essay for SI. “The more time passed, the more it felt right.”
Alongside Love, Thompson, Shumpert and Kyrie Irving, James led the Cavaliers to their first championship in franchise history, defeating the Warriors in epic come-from-behind fashion (down 3-1 in the Finals). Notably, it was Cleveland's first sporting title in 52 years.
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