1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers season explained

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 27th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio.^[1] In the 1996 NBA draft, the Cavaliers selected Ukrainian center Vitaly Potapenko out of Wright State University with the 12th overall pick, and Lithuanian center Zydrunas Ilgauskas with the 20th overall pick.^{[2] [3] [4]} However, Ilgauskas would miss the entire season with a broken bone in his right foot.^{[5] [6] [7]} During the off-season, the team signed free agent Mark West.^{[8] [9]} The Cavaliers started their season winning nine of their first twelve games, but after a 21–10 start, they lost six straight games in January while losing 11 of their next 14 games. The team played above .500 for the entire season, holding a 25–22 record at the All-Star break,^[10] but started to struggle down the stretch, losing 10 of their 16 games in March.^[11] On the final day of the regular season on April 20, 1997, the Cavaliers faced the Washington Bullets at the Gund Arena, as both teams were fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bullets won 85–81 as the Cavs missed the playoffs, finishing 5th in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.^{[12] [13] [14] [15]} The Cavaliers had the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.^[16]

Terrell Brandon led the team with 19.5 points, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, which Cleveland hosted at the Gund Arena.^{[17] [18] [19] [20]} In addition, Chris Mills averaged 13.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while Tyrone Hill provided the team with 12.9 points, 9.9 rebounds per game and shot .600 in field-goal percentage, and Bobby Phills contributed 12.6 points and 1.6 steals per game. Danny Ferry provided with 10.6 points per game, while off the bench, second-year guard Bob Sura contributed 9.2 points and 4.8 assists per game, and Potapenko averaged 5.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.^[21]

Following the season, Brandon and Hill were both traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in an off-season three-team trade,^{[22] [23] [24] [25] [26]} while Mills signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics,^{[27] [28] [29]} who then traded him to the New York Knicks two months later,^{[30] [31] [32]} Phills signed with the Charlotte Hornets,^{[33] [34] [35]} and West signed with the Indiana Pacers.^{[36] [37]}

Offseason

Trades

Draft picks

See main article: 1996 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	12^*	Vitaly Potapenko	Center		Wright State
1	20	Zydrunas Ilgauskas	Center		Atletas
2	56^**	Reggie Geary	Guard		Arizona

• 1st round pick acquired from Washington in Mark Price deal.^{[38]
  **}2nd round pick acquired from Orlando in Steve Kerr deal.^[39]
• 2nd round pick (#50) traded to Houston in Keith Hughes deal. Used to draft Terrell Bell.

Roster

Roster Notes

• Rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed the entire season due to a broken bone in his right foot.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–1
Boston	1–3	–	0–4	0–4	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–4
Charlotte	3–1	4–0	–	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Chicago	3–1	4–0	4–0	–	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	3–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1
Cleveland	1–3	2–1	1–3	1–3	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	3–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2
Denver	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	–	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–4	3–1	1–1
Detroit	3–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–2	2–2	2–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	0–2	–	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	1–3	4–0	0–4	2–0	0–4	3–1	0–2
Houston	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	–	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0
Indiana	1–3	2–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–3
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	–	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–0	1–3	4–0	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–0
Miami	2–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	–	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Milwaukee	0–4	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	–	0–2	2–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1
New Jersey	1–3	4–0	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–2	0–2	–	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
Orlando	1–3	4–0	2–1	0–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–3	–	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–3
Philadelphia	0–4	3–1	0–4	0–4	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–2	0–2	0–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–3	2–2	–	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	–	1–3	4–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	–	2–2	4–0	1–3	0–2	2–2	4–0	0–2
Sacramento	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–4	4–0	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	–	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	–	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Toronto	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	3–0	0–3	0–4	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	2–2
Utah	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	–	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	0–4	1–1	0–4	–	1–1
Washington	1–2	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	—

Game log

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Player stats

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Terrell Brandon	78	78	36.8	43.8	37.3	90.2	3.9	6.3	1.8	0.4	19.5
Chris Mills	80	79	39.6	45.3	39.1	84.2	6.2	2.5	1.1	0.5	13.4
Tyrone Hill	74	70	34.9	60.0	0.0	63.3	9.9	1.2	0.9	0.4	12.9
Bobby Phills	69	65	34.4	42.8	39.4	71.8	3.6	3.4	1.6	0.3	12.6
Danny Ferry	82	48	32.1	42.9	40.1	85.1	4.1	1.8	0.7	0.4	10.6
Bob Sura	82	23	27.7	43.1	32.3	61.4	3.8	4.8	1.1	0.4	9.2
Vitaly Potapenko	80	3	15.5	44.0	50.0	73.6	2.7	0.5	0.3	0.4	5.8
Mark West	70	43	13.7	55.6	0.0	48.2	2.7	0.3	0.2	0.8	3.2
Donny Marshall	56	0	9.8	32.5	37.9	70.4	1.3	0.4	0.4	0.1	3.1
Antonio Lang	64	1	13.2	42.0	0.0	72.9	2.0	0.5	0.5	0.5	2.7
Reggie Geary	39	0	6.3	37.9	38.1	45.5	0.4	0.9	0.3	0.1	1.5
Shawnelle Scott	16	0	3.1	50.0	0.0	36.4	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	1.3
Carl Thomas	19	0	4.1	37.5	16.7	100.0	0.7	0.4	0.1	0.1	1.1

Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

All-Star

Terrell Brandon - 1997 NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

Development League

External links

• Cleveland Cavaliers on Database Basketball
• Cleveland Cavaliers on Basketball Reference

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1997.html 1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers
2. News: Heisler . Mark . The Surprises Are Few . Los Angeles Times . June 27, 1996 . January 28, 2023.
3. News: Bembry . Jerry . 76ers Make Iverson the 1, Philadelphia Takes Georgetown Guard; Camby Goes Second . The Baltimore Sun . June 27, 1996 . June 2, 2023.
4. Web site: 1996 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . January 28, 2023.
5. News: Cleveland Rookie to Miss Camp Opening . The New York Times . September 27, 1996 . April 20, 2023.
6. News: Walters . John . Who Is Zydrunas Ilgauskas? . Sports Illustrated Vault . February 2, 1998 . April 20, 2023.
7. News: Ilgauskas Sidelined Again by Foot Problem . United Press International . December 26, 2000 . October 22, 2021.
8. News: Fischer . Bob . Magic Acquires Spencer to Fill Gap . Chicago Tribune . August 10, 1996 . June 28, 2022.
9. News: Transactions . Hartford Courant . August 10, 1996 . December 27, 2022.
10. News: NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997 . Basketball-Reference . July 19, 2022.
11. Web site: 1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 22, 2021.
12. News: Final Day: Charlotte Slips, Washington Soars, O'Neal Misses . The New York Times . April 21, 1997 . May 12, 2022.
13. News: Adande . J.A. . Rebounding, with Much Emotion . The Washington Post . April 21, 1997 . September 16, 2022.
14. News: Bembry . Jerry . Last-Chance Bullets Hit Bull's Eye; Washington Rallies Past Cavaliers, 85-81, Gains Playoff Goal; Bulls Series Begins Friday; Longest Postseason Drought in NBA Ends . The Baltimore Sun . April 21, 1997 . January 28, 2023.
15. News: Washington Bullets at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, April 20, 1997 . Basketball-Reference . November 19, 2022.
16. Web site: Teams Defense. NBA.com. April 16, 2021.
17. News: Jorgensen . Loren . No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home . Deseret News . February 8, 1997 . April 19, 2023.
18. News: Fry . Darrell . On to the Next Stage . Tampa Bay Times . February 8, 1997 . December 28, 2022.
19. News: NBA.com Staff . 1997 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
20. Web site: 1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120 . Basketball-Reference . November 27, 2021.
21. Web site: 1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 22, 2021.
22. News: Roberts . Selena . PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish and Is Traded, to Cavs . The New York Times . September 26, 1997 . July 25, 2021.
23. News: Baker . Chris . Kemp Is Key Player in Three-Way Trade . Los Angeles Times . September 26, 1997 . September 18, 2022.
24. News: Sherwin . Bob . Shawn Kemp Moves On -- Reign Comes to an End -- Kemp Is a Cav, Baker Is a Sonic After 3-Way Deal . The Seattle Times . September 26, 1997 . May 16, 2022.
25. News: Kemp Is Traded to Cavaliers in Three-Way Deal . The Washington Post . September 26, 1997 . December 3, 2022.
26. News: Associated Press . Sonics Send Kemp to Cavs in 3-Way Deal . Deseret News . September 26, 1997 . June 20, 2023.
27. News: Celtics Sign Chris Mills and Tyus Edney . Associated Press . August 22, 1997 . December 27, 2022.
28. News: Bloomberg News . Celtics Sign 2 Free Agents . The New York Times . August 23, 1997 . October 22, 2022.
29. News: Transactions . Hartford Courant . August 23, 1997 . July 17, 2022.
30. News: Roberts . Selena . PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Send Four Players to the Celtics for Mills . The New York Times . October 23, 1997 . January 1, 2022.
31. News: Associated Press . Knicks Trade Four Players to Get Mills . Los Angeles Times . October 23, 1997 . October 3, 2022.
32. News: Greenberg . Alan . One of Pitino's Slick Moves . Hartford Courant . October 23, 1997 . December 27, 2022.
33. News: Associated Press . Hornets Sign Phills . The New York Times . August 20, 1997 . January 1, 2022.
34. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Hornets Complete Renovation of Backcourt by Signing Phills . Los Angeles Times . August 20, 1997 . October 3, 2022.
35. News: Wire Services . Hornets Sign Phills . The Spokesman-Review . August 20, 1997 . December 27, 2022.
36. News: Associated Press . Hornacek Re-Signs with Jazz . The New York Times . September 9, 1997 . June 30, 2022.
37. News: Wire Services . Jazz Re-Sign Hornacek . The Spokesman-Review . September 9, 1997 . February 2, 2023.
38. Encyclopedia: O'Dell. Larry. Price, William Mark (1964-). Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. 18 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629071053/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/P/PR013.html. 29 June 2011.
39. Web site: Trail Blazers Obtain Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr. Portland Trail Blazers. 18 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20050307133036/http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Derek_Anderson_signs010720.html. 7 March 2005.