2020–21 Cleveland Cavaliers season explained

Team:Cleveland Cavaliers
End Year:2021
Coach:J. B. Bickerstaff
Gm:Koby Altman
Owner:Dan Gilbert
Wins:22
Losses:50
Division:Central
Division Place:4
Conf Place:13
Playoffs:Did not qualify
Bbr Team:CLE
Television:Bally Sports Ohio
Radio:

The 2020–21 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 51st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They did not make it to the playoffs for the third season in a row.[1]

Draft

See main article: article and 2020 NBA draft.

Before the start of the 2020 NBA draft period, the Cavaliers' selection was originally held as the #3 selection due to them finishing their previous season with the third worst record in the NBA (only ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors) before the NBA suspended their season on March 12 and eventually cancelled Cleveland's season on June 5.[2] Like Minnesota and Golden State, Cleveland held the best odds to jump up to the #1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft lottery, though the Cavaliers could have fallen as low as the #6 pick. However, unlike Minnesota and Golden State, Cleveland did not stay in the top 3; their first-round pick instead dropped down to the fifth selection of the draft. The Cavaliers didn't have a second round selection.[3]

Trades

On January 13, 2021, the Cavaliers were part of a blockbuster four team trade. As part of the deal which was headlined by James Harden going to the Brooklyn Nets, the Cavs received center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince from Brooklyn, while sending guard Dante Exum and a 2022 first round draft pick to the Houston Rockets.[4]

On January 22, 2021, the Cavaliers traded disgruntled small forward Kevin Porter Jr. to the Rockets for a highly-protected future second-round pick.[5]

Standings

Conference

Notes

Player statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
67 67 32.4 .420 .290 .726 3.1 1.9 .9 .4 9.6
63 19 19.2 .431 .366 .769 3.4 1.2 .6 .3 6.0
60 60 35.3 .475 .371 .815 3.1 4.4 1.0 .2 24.3
59 26 25.6 .374 .306 .800 3.4 2.9 .9 .2 10.4
54 50 33.1 .451 .395 .848 2.4 6.1 1.2 .1 17.4
51 40 30.3 .609 .316 .690 9.9 1.7 .5 1.4 13.2
46 7 19.7 .406 .289 .667 2.0 2.0 .3 .1 6.7
40 0 12.5 .456 .160 .725 2.4 .6 .4 .3 4.1
35 27 31.2 .471 .360 .612 6.7 3.1 1.7 .5 9.3
33 1 15.2 .521 .250 .655 5.2 1.0 .5 1.2 8.0
31 0 16.5 .438 .338 .778 3.5 1.1 .6 .4 5.2
29 6 23.7 .399 .415 .837 3.7 2.4 .7 .5 10.1
28 1 13.4 .366 .283 .667 1.8 .9 .5 .3 4.1
25 25 28.9 .474 .000 .597 13.5 2.6 1.6 1.2 17.5
25 25 24.9 .409 .365 .824 7.4 2.5 .6 .1 12.2
16 2 17.9 .582 .333 .686 6.0 2.5 .5 1.2 8.3
16 0 11.6 .421 .281 .786 2.9 .8 .4 .6 4.3
13 1 17.2 .250 .160 1.000 1.8 4.5 .3 .1 2.8
9 0 8.3 .273 .250 .200 .8 .4 .6 .2 2.4
8 0 9.5 .556 .000 .909 2.3 .5 .3 .5 3.8
7 0 13.6 .405 .462 1.000 1.7 1.9 .4 .0 6.1
6 3 19.3 .385 .182 .500 2.8 2.2 .7 .3 3.8
6 0 4.8 .333 .625 1.0 .0 .3 .3 1.2
5 0 7.2 .250 .000 .556 4.0 .6 .0 .4 2.6
2 0 20.0 .381 .333 .000 3.5 2.5 1.5 .5 9.5

Transactions

See main article: List of 2020–21 NBA season transactions.

Trades

November 23, 2020To Cleveland Cavaliers
2025 second round pick
To Milwaukee Bucks
Draft rights to İlkan Karaman
November 18, 2020[6] To Cleveland Cavaliers
JaVale McGee
2026 second round pick
To Los Angeles Lakers
Jordan Bell
Alfonzo McKinnie
November 23, 2020To Cleveland Cavaliers
Rayjon Tucker
2027 second round pick
To Utah Jazz
Cash considerations
January 13, 2021[7] [8] [9] To Cleveland Cavaliers
Jarrett Allen
Taurean Prince
Draft rights to Sasha Vezenkov
To Brooklyn Nets
James Harden
2024 second round pick
To Houston Rockets
Victor Oladipo
Dante Exum
Rodions Kurucs
2022 first round pick
2022 first round pick
2024 first round pick
2026 first round pick
2021 first round pick swap
2023 first round pick swap
2025 first round pick swap
2027 first round pick swap
To Indiana Pacers
Caris LeVert
2023 second round pick
2024 second round pick
Cash considerations
November 23, 2020[10] To Cleveland Cavaliers
2024 second round pick
To Houston Rockets
Kevin Porter Jr.
November 23, 2020[11] To Cleveland Cavaliers
Isaiah Hartenstein
2023 second round pick
2027 second round pick
To Denver Nuggets
JaVale McGee

Free agency

Re-signed

PlayerSigned
Isaac OkoroNovember 21, 2020
Matthew DellavedovaNovember 24, 2020
Marques BoldenDecember 19, 2020
Quinn CookMarch 22, 2021

Additions

PlayerSignedFormer team
Lamar StevensNovember 19, 2020Undrafted
Damyean DotsonNovember 24, 2020New York Knicks
Charles MatthewsNovember 27, 2020Unsigned
Marques BoldenNovember 28, 2020Canton Charge
Thon MakerNovember 28, 2020Detroit Pistons
Levi RandolphDecember 1, 2020Canton Charge
Norvel PelleDecember 19, 2020Philadelphia 76ers
Yogi FerrellJanuary 11, 2021Sacramento Kings
Brodric ThomasFebruary 24, 2021Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Quinn CookMarch 12, 2021Los Angeles Lakers
Anderson VarejaoMay 4, 2021Flamengo Basketball

Subtractions

PlayerReason leftNew team
Rayjon TuckerWaivedLos Angeles Clippers
Norvel PelleWaivedCanton Charge
Matt MooneyWaivedRaptors 905
Charles MatthewsWaivedCanton Charge
Levi RandolphWaivedCanton Charge
Thon MakerWaived
Andre DrummondWaivedLos Angeles Lakers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cleveland Cavaliers Team Info and News . NBA.com . 2022-09-10.
  2. News: NBA Mock Draft: Where do Prospects Stand After March Madness Cancellation?. Sports Illustrated .
  3. Web site: Cleveland Acquires Channing Frye. February 18, 2016. National Basketball Association. October 16, 2020.
  4. http://nba.com/news/reports-nets-acquire-james-harden-trade Nets acquire James Harden in blockbuster trade - NBA.com
  5. Web site: Kevin Porter Jr. traded to Houston. Chris. Manning. Fear the Sword. 21 January 2021.
  6. Web site: Cavaliers Acquire JaVale McGee from Los Angeles Lakers. NBA.com. November 23, 2020. November 23, 2020.
  7. Web site: Brooklyn Nets Acquire James Harden . NBA.com . January 17, 2021 . January 14, 2021.
  8. Web site: Rockets Announce Revised Four-Team Trade . NBA.com . January 17, 2021 . January 16, 2021.
  9. Web site: Cavaliers Acquire Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince from Brooklyn as Part of Three-Team Trade. NBA.com. January 14, 2021 . January 14, 2021.
  10. Web site: Cavaliers Trade Kevin Porter Jr. to Houston. NBA.com. January 22, 2021. January 22, 2021.
  11. Web site: Nuggets add JaVale McGee in deal with Cavaliers. NBA.com. March 26, 2021. March 26, 2021.