The Cleveland Cavaliers have largely been a mixed bag throughout their franchise history when it comes to the NBA Draft. The Cavs have been able to draft stars such as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving but have also missed hard on prospects like Anthony Bennett and DaJuan Wagner.
In the midst of all those picks, Cleveland has also done their homework on some of the more underappreciated prospects in a given draft class and as a result, have a few draft-day steals that can stack up with most other teams in the league.
5. Chris Mills
A talented forward out of Arizona and former McDonalds All-American, Mills was selected by the Cavaliers with the 22nd overall pick in 1993. Mills would only end up playing four seasons in Cleveland before finishing his career with the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors.
In those four seasons, Mills was a consistent starter for the Cavs and his best season came in 1995-96 where he averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
4. Carlos Boozer
Boozer would be much higher on this list if his Cavaliers career wasn't so short-lived. Nonetheless, the Alaska native and 2002 second round-pick (35th overall) immediately proved he belonged in the league.
By his second season, Boozer was putting up 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game as a rising young star at the power forward position.
Boozer would only play two seasons with the Cavaliers, but he would enjoy a long and successful NBA career after leaving.
3. Mike Mitchell
Probably the best player on this list overall, like Boozer, Mitchell isn't higher on this list because he played most of his career with another team other than the Cavaliers.
Still, in a 1978 draft that featured Larry Bird and Michael Ray-Richardson, the Cavaliers got an absolute steal when they drafted the Auburn small forward 15th overall.
After a decent rookie campaign, Mitchell exploded for 22.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in his second year.
He would average a career-best 24.5 points per game in the 1980-81 season and despite being traded to the San Antonio Spurs after just three and a half years with the Cavaliers, Mitchell's scoring prowess is enough to get him on this list.
2. Hot Rod Williams
The 45th overall pick of the 1985 draft, Williams would become one of the more underrated big men in the league during his nine seasons as a member of the Cavaliers.
The 6-foot-11 center/power forward was able to make an immediate impact for the Cavs and over nearly the next decade, Williams provided solid scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking for some pretty good Cavaliers teams.
Williams' best season in with the Cavaliers came in 1989-90 when he averaged a career-high 16.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
1. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
With international scouting not exactly what it is today, the Cavaliers were able to grab Lithuanian center Zydrunas Ilgauskas with the 20th overall pick during the 1996 draft.
At 7-foot-3 and 240 pounds, Big Z would provide an intimidating presence for the Cavaliers for more than a decade. With solid touch around the basket and the size to rebound over anyone or alter any shot, Ilgauskas would be named a two-time All-Star during his 13 seasons in Cleveland.
In a three-season stretch between 2002 and 2005, the international big man would put up 16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
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