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Lightning Strikes Thrice for Embry, Cavs in Bountiful 1986 Draft

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
		11/10/20 | Cavs.com

The Cavaliers historically bountiful Draft of 1986 started out with the Cavaliers having just the 8th overall selection after finishing with 53 losses the previous season.

Gene Littles took over for George Karl in 1985-86 as the Cavaliers limped to the finish line with 11 losses in their final 15 games.

Atop the previous Draft, the Cavs selected Cleveland native Charles Oakley with the 9th overall pick, but immediately dealt him to Chicago for Keith Lee. But that year’s incoming class wasn’t all bad. After tabbing Calvin Duncan with the 30th overall pick, the Cavaliers had struck gold with a kid named John Williams from Tulane at No. 45 – they just didn’t know it yet.

Harry Weltman was replaced by Wayne Embry, who took the job just in time for the 1986 Draft. And his deals leading up to that Tuesday in June altered the franchise forever.

Embry didn’t wait long to begin dealing, sending high-flying forward Roy Hinson along with $800,000 to the 76ers for the rights to the top pick in 1986 – a pick Philly acquired seven years earlier when they sent Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, Kobe’s father, to the Clippers.

Despite an outstanding college career at North Carolina, Brad Daugherty wasn’t the sexy pick at the top of that year’s Draft, but he was the obvious pick for Cleveland. As it turned out, the Celtics would take the late Len Bias out of Maryland at No. 2. Two days later, Bias tragically died of a cocaine overdose. Three of the next five picks – William Bedford, Chris Mashburn and Roy Tarpley – also struggled with personal problems before their careers came to a close.

Seven picks after selecting Daugherty, the Cavaliers snagged a skinny swingman from Miami (OH) named Ron Harper – the MAC’s Player of the Year. The Dayton native came to Cleveland having shattered several school and conference records while leading the RedHawks to the NCAA Tourney as a senior.

Mark Price came into the league as an unknown second rounder and left widely-regarded as one of the best pure shooters in NBA history.
					Photo by David Liam Kyle/Getty Images

When the Second Round came, Cleveland’s newly-minted GM pulled another rabbit out of his hat – sending a 1989 Second Rounder (Jeff Hodge was later selected) to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for a small-ish, slow-ish, sleepy-eyed sharpshooter from Georgia Tech named Mark Price.

At No. 29, with  their own pick, the Cavaliers drafted Richmond swingman Johnny Newman – and rounded out that year’s class, for the record, with Kevin Henderson (50, Cal State Fullerton), Warren Martin (73, North Carolina), Ben Davis (96, Gardner-Webb University), Gilbert Wilburn (119, New Mexico State) and Ralph Dalton (142, Georgetown).

Less than three weeks later, Embry signed the man charged with developing his bumper crop of young talent – and again he hit a bullseye, hiring Lenny Wilkens – who’d spent part of his Hall of Fame playing career with the Cavaliers and won a title with Seattle as coach – as the 10th head coach in team history.

As a team, the young Cavaliers took their lumps that year – finishing 31-51 – but it was obvious that all this group needed was time.

Harper led the squad in scoring at 22.9ppg, with Daugherty – the team’s leading rebounder at 8.1rpg – right behind at 15.3ppg. That team would be galvanized by the previous season’s pick and the team’s third-leading scorer, Hot Rod Williams, and a January free agent acquisition named Craig Ehlo.

Both Daugherty and Harper were named to the league’s All-Rookie First Team, with Harper being edged out for Rookie of the Year by Indiana’s Chuck Person.

Lenny’s squad showed signs of what they were destined to become the following season – posting a 42-40 mark, best since the Miracle squad. And midway through the campaign, Embry engineered another franchise-altering deal – sending 1987’s No. 7 overall pick, point guard Kevin Johnson, along with forwards Mark West and Tyrone Corbin to the Suns in exchange for forwards Larry Nance and Mike Sanders.

In the long-term, Nance would reach two All-Star Games three All-Defensive Team nods with Cleveland. In the short term, he helped the Cavs win 11 of their last 13 games in a final flurry to reach the Playoffs.

The up-and-coming Cavs fell to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in five First Round contests, setting the table for an Eastern Conference rivalry for the ages.

The following year, Cleveland won a franchise-record 57 games – including 22 straight at the Coliseum. The squad boasted four All-Stars: Price, Daugherty, Nance and Lenny Wilkens as coach.

But that season ended with Jordan splashing home the game- and series-winning shot over Ehlo in an iconic moment that ended the Cavaliers season and created an NBA legend.

Less than a month into the following season, with the Cavaliers unexpectedly dealing Harper and a pair of first rounders in exchange for former Duke star Danny Ferry and journeyman forward Reggie Williams. He would go on to win five combined NBA Championships with the Bulls and Lakers.

Despite the Bulls roadblock, Daugherty and Price proceeded to have prolific careers with the Cavs.

Daugherty – whose No. 43 was retired on March 1, 1997 – is still the only player in franchise history to averaged at least 20 points and 10 boards in a season, doing so in three straight campaigns (1990-93) and was named an Eastern Conference All-Star in each year – one of five career nods to the midseason classic.

The Cavs reached the Playoffs in all but two of Daugherty’s seasons with the franchise and despite having his career cut short at just 28 by a herniated lumbar disc still ranks 3rd in points scored, 6th in scoring average, 5th in field goals made and attempted, 2nd in field goal percentage, free throws made and attempted, 6th in offensive rebounding, 2nd in defensive rebounding and 3rd overall.

Price – whose No. 25 was retired on November 13, 1999 – retired as one of the greatest pure shooters in NBA history from both the stripe and beyond the arc. Price was named an Eastern Conference All-Star four times (1989, 1992-94) and is the only Cavalier besides LeBron James to make the All-NBA Team, including First Team in 1992-93.

Aside from 1990-91, when an ACL injury limited him to just 16 games, the Cavaliers made the Playoffs or won at least 42 games in every year that Price was a starter. The Oklahoma native led the league in free throw shooting twice and won the Three-Point Shootout in back-to-back seasons.

Price is the franchise’s all-time leader in free throw percentage, 5th in all-time scoring and ranks second to only LeBron James in three-pointers made and attempted, steals and assists.

Just for icing on the cake – and to prove once again that Wayne Embry is truly a basketball genius – it’s worth noting that Johnny Neman (remember, the Cavs 1986 pick at No. 29) played more games than any of the three uber-accomplished guys from the same class.

Newman – who came to the pros after leading his Spiders past Charles Barkley and Auburn in the NCAA Tournament – played just 59 games for Cleveland as a rookie, but would go on to appear in exactly 1,100 more with nine different teams (including another stint with the Cavs in 1998-99) before wrapping up his 17-year career with the Mavericks in 2001-02, having piled up 12,740 points.

A five-time NBA All-Star, NBA Champion, two-time NBA Executive of the Year – and inaugural member of the Cavaliers Wall of Honor – Wayne Embry has proven over and over again why he’s a Hall of Famer and hoops legend. And one of the brightest moments on his sterling resume came on a June afternoon back in 1986.

drafts-from-the-past-1986

Drafts from the Past: 1986

**NOTE: The news clips and articles listed don't necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of the Cleveland Cavaliers or their Basketball Operations staff, partners, or sponsors.**

Cleveland Cavaliers lose Cedi Osman, winning streak in 111-98 loss to Mavericks: Chris Fedor's instant analysisAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dallas Mavericks wunderkind Luka Doncic walked off the floor, right past a contingent of adoring fans posted in the corner waving Slovenian flags from behind the Mavericks' bench at their favorite son.

In his first -- and only -- game at Quicken Loans Arena this year, Doncic put on quite a show. By halftime, Doncic had 28 points, nearly outscoring Cleveland's entire starting five (30). When it was all over, Doncic matched his season-high with 35 points on 13-of-25 shooting to go with six assists and 11 rebounds in 32 mesmerizing minutes.

Behind Doncic and Harrison Barnes, who punctuated a scintillating 13-point fourth quarter with a dagger 3-pointer that gave Dallas its biggest lead (15) at the 4:34 mark, the Mavericks beat the Cavs and ended their two-game winning streak with a 111-98 win.

"Man, he's impressive," Larry Nance Jr. said of Doncic. "You see him on TV and everything and it's hard to tell how tall he is until you get next to him. He's a problem now and he's going to be a problem for, what, we're going to have to deal with that potentially 18 or 15 more years or however long he's lucky enough to play. I'm a fan." - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Cleveland Cavaliers have received trade offers for Rodney Hood: SourcesAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With the trade deadline fast approaching and the Cleveland Cavaliers sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, the team has received multiple offers for Rodney Hood, sources told cleveland.com.

At this point, less than a week before the Feb. 7 deadline, none of the interested teams have met Cleveland’s asking price.

Hood, 26, signed a one-year qualifying offer worth $3.4 million this past summer. Because of that, his contract carries a one-year Bird restriction, which allows him to veto any trade.

Both Hood and his agent have already informed the Cavs on what he would be willing to do with that veto power, according to league sources. And Hood will be choosy. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Watch Sgt. Jesse Hawkins surprise his family during Cavs game after a year serving in Korea (video)Author: Hayden Grove
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio-- Connor and Oliver Hawkins are used to seeing their father in feather-stuffed form.

On Saturday night, after nearly a year, the four-year old and two-year old got to see their dad in the flesh once again.

Sgt. Jesse Hawkins, a huge Cleveland sports fan from Columbus, spent a year overseas in Korea with the U.S. Army, before flying back home to Ohio to surprise his kids and his family with his presence.

The emotional moment was months in the making, when Hawkins' wife, Brooke, had her two sons, a life-sized cardboard cutout of her husband in uniform and two small dolls Jesse’s image front and center at Browns Training Camp in August. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

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Daily News - February 3, 2019

Rodney Hood's internal battle to stay aggressive has continued this seasonAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On Wednesday night, with 32.5 seconds left and the Cleveland Cavaliers trailing by one -- another game starting to slip through their grasp in the fourth quarter -- head coach Larry Drew could've diagramed the play for anyone.

Jordan Clarkson was sitting on a season-high 28 points. Those late-game pressure moments are supposed to be earmarked for rookie Collin Sexton as part of his development. Matthew Dellavedova had a chance to cap a storybook return to Cleveland with a go-ahead basket.

The Cavs recognize they don't have a predetermined closer. It's about matchups and feel. Hood had the look early, repeatedly attacking the defense on his way to a 13-point first quarter. But had cooled off as the game progressed. That's why choosing him in that moment might have had a deeper meaning, especially given what Drew said nearly two weeks ago.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

#CavsPacers Game PreviewAuthor: Joe Sykes
Publication: Cavs.com

The Wine &amp; Gold begin their three-game roadie on Tuesday night when they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Tipoff from Bankers Life Fieldhouse is at 7:00 p.m. (ET).

Against Indiana, Cleveland will look to get the ball rolling again after dropping their latest contest to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday afternoon.

Despite the loss, the Cavs played the Sixers tough, especially off the bench.

The reserves tallied 50 points on Sunday against Philly, which was their fourth consecutive game with 50-plus points (10th overall). Those four straight contests now match a franchise record established from 12/17/1991 to 12/21/1991. This season alone, the Wine &amp; Gold are averaging 43.6 bench points (sixth-best in the NBA).
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Coach Larry Drew draws on three words of advice to push forward as Cavaliers rebuildAuthor: Marla Ridenour
Publication: Akron Beacon Journal

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers coach Larry Drew keeps circling back to three words from Doug Collins, his close friend and one of his NBA peers he admires most.

“Coach ’em up,” Drew said Collins used to say.

That’s what Drew said Collins told him when Drew found himself in the midst of franchise rebuilds in Milwaukee and to an extent in Atlanta. Drew lasted just one season with the Bucks, when now-star Giannis Antetokounmpo was a rookie in 2013-14 and they stumbled to a 15-67 record.

The Hawks made the playoffs in all three of Drew’s seasons starting in 2010-11, but twice lost in the first round and fell to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2011.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-december-18-2018

Daily News - December 18, 2018

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Game 29 preview and listingsAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers (7-21) will continue their homestand on Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks (18-9).

Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; WMMS 100.7 FM, La Mega 87.7 FM.

Last meeting: The Cavs lost to the Bucks 108-92 on Dec. 10, 2018
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

#CavsBucks Game PreviewAuthor: Joe Sykes
Publication: Cavs.com

The Cavaliers continue their homestand on Friday night when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at The Q. Tipoff in The Land is at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

On Friday, the Wine &amp; Gold are in position to grab a second straight win after they bested the New York Knicks, 113-106, on Wednesday night at The Q. After icing the Knicks with an 8-0 run late in the fourth quarter, the Wine &amp; Gold have now won back-to-back home games for the first time this season.

The Cavs got out to a hot start on Wednesday night scoring 39 points in the first quarter which was their most in any opening period this season. The squad also played well in the trenches, outrebounding the Knicks 51-43 - the sixth time this season they have grabbed at least 50 rebounds in a game.

From a player perspective, the Cavs were led by Jordan Clarkson who scored a team-high 28 points in Wednesday's win. Clarkson has scored in double figures in 24-of-28 games this season, including seven 20-plus point performances and is now averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game (fifth-best among all NBA bench players).
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Cavs Bring Joy To the Worlds of Pediatric PatientsAuthor: Staff Report
Publication: Cavs.com

It was a beautiful sight, everyone was happy tonight, as the Cavs went walking in a winter wonderland at Cleveland Clinic Children’s on Thursday.

The full Cavaliers roster spent the afternoon decking the halls with boughs of holly and going room to room visiting the pediatric patients and their families.

Their eyes, how they twinkled, their dimples, how merry; their cheeks were like roses, their noses like cherries.

There were lots of smiles and hugs and even a few round bellies that shook when they laughed like a bowl full of jelly.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-december-14-2018

Daily News - December 14, 2018

Matthew Dellavedova's return has Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye thinking toughness, lobs and coffee beans
Chris FedorAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was an emotional night all around for the Cleveland Cavaliers, forced to say goodbye to a teammate for the second time in less than two weeks before getting belted by the Sacramento Kings 129-110.

Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye, the two non-injured or exiled players still remaining from the 2016 NBA title team, were sad to see George Hill go.

Yet the other side of those feelings could be seen in the glow when discussing old pal Matthew Dellavedova's return.

"I'm glad my Aussie brother is back," Thompson said. "He brings us veteran leadership, a guy that has won before, a guy who is going to push Collin (Sexton) and control the game for the second unit. He will make shots and he's good at throwing lobs to me." - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Kings 129, Cavaliers 110: Short-handed Cavs take it on the chinAuthor: George Thomas
Publication: Akron Beacon Journal

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers appeared as if they were going to get run out of Quicken Loans Arena by the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

At one point trailing 24-9 to the Kings, who were landing haymakers (shooting 65 percent in the first quarter), the Cavs (5-20) picked up the pace and, to a certain extent the defense, to race back and tie the score at halftime.

The problem is the sloppy play that put them in a hole to start the game, buried them to end it.

Effort-free defense and problems on the boards, especially the offensive glass, doomed the Cavs to a 129-110 loss. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Matthew Dellavedova back with Cavs and a perfect role model for Collin SextonAuthor: Jeff Schudel
Publication: News-Herald

The empty seats in Quicken Loans Arena on Dec. 7, in another lopsided loss, this time to the improved Sacramento Kings, told the story better than words can:

The Cavs need a Matthew Dellavedova Bobblehead Night to get the fans back.

The first step to such an occasion was taken about two hours before the Cavs-Kings game when the Cavaliers shipped guard George Hill and forward Sam Dekker to the Milwaukee Bucks for Dellavedova, power forward John Henson, a future first-round pick and a future second-round pick, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

No official announcement has been made by the Cavaliers because all the players involved have to pass physicals first. Henson won’t be passing his, however, because he had surgery on Nov. 27 to repair torn ligaments in his left wrist. There is no timetable for his return, but he is unlikely to be back until after the All-Star break in mid-February.

The trade doesn’t make the Cavaliers better on paper in 2018-19, but it could look very good by the time they get to spend the first-rounder, reportedly in 2022. The pick, according to reports, is a protected 2021 pick, which means the Bucks would retain it if it is one of the top 14 picks in the 2021 draft. It would remain protected in 2022 if it is a top-pick. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-december-8-2018

Daily News - December 8, 2018

Cleveland Cavaliers: An open (Kevin) Love letterAuthor: Terry Pluto
Publication: Cleveland.com

Your contract extension made you an immediate hero with most Cavalier fans.

In many ways, those of us who grew up following Cleveland sports teams are delighted when any player of any magnitude wants to stay here and actually does so. I have been hearing from some fans about how they think you'll return to being the Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves. By that, they mean the player who averaged 26 points and 12.7 rebounds, shooting 45 percent in the field.

That was in your last two full seasons in Minnesota (2012-13, 2014-15).

Kevin, don't try to be that guy. The numbers were huge. But you were younger. You also didn't have the same grasp of the game you do after playing four years with the Cavaliers. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-august-5-2018

Daily News - August 5, 2018

For the first time since 2014, the Wine &amp; Gold will have a vested interest in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery thanks to an offseason deal which landed them the Brooklyn Nets first round pick.

The top three picks are decided by drawing ping pong balls, but the remaining picks in the lottery (4-14) will be arranged by team records.

Here is a snapshot of each team's chances when the ping pong balls fly on May 15 ...

* Celtics get pick if 2-5, otherwise Sixers receive it

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2018 NBA Draft Lottery Chances

George Hill only new Cavalier to start against Celtics; Cedi Osman gets another gameAuthor: Joe Vardon
Publication: Cleveland.com

ATLANTA -- Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said George Hill would be the only new player starting Sunday against the Boston Celtics, thus changing his mind and sticking with rookie Cedi Osman over Rodney Hood for at least one more game.

Lue said Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. would all come off the bench and see action against the Celtics.

"I mean, they don't know the plays yet," Lue said after this new iteration of Cavaliers practiced for the first time together Saturday in Atlanta. "So it's going to be tough tomorrow with George starting because you can't really run a lot of stuff. Just run some pick-and-rolls. But just having him on the floor will be good. He's a veteran so he can understand the flow of the game and then once we get our plays down and defensively what we want to do, then you could see a lineup change."

The Cavs traded away six players -- including two starters -- on Thursday. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Trade deadline deals make LeBron James happier and that's good enough for nowAuthor: Bud Shaw
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If LeBron James was truly "happy as hell" the Cavs sent his best friend home to Miami Thursday, then we assume he felt even warmer and fuzzier Saturday when Dwyane Wade showed up in a video on social media.

Yep. That's Wade on a golf course. And not one cross-country skier in the background.

If losing Wade didn't upset James, we can also assume Isaiah Thomas going to L.A. wasn't exactly the cause of a deep depression. James didn't want any "shade" to fall on his ex-teammates, so we must draw our own conclusions.

So how happy is James? Happier? Happy-ish?

There's always a caveat. And even if there isn't, he doesn't mind creating the perception of one. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

New Cavaliers used to battle LeBron James, look up to himAuthor: Joe Vardon
Publication: Cleveland.com

ATLANTA -- George Hill tried for three years to beat LeBron James and get to the Finals.

Rodney Hood went to James' summer skills camp.

Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. on Sunday will be able to say they played with legends Kobe Bryant and James before their 26th birthdays. And, naturally, Nance Jr. grew up living in northeast Ohio as a "die hard" Cavs fan, in a childhood that spanned James' first tenure in Cleveland.

The four new players the Cavs acquired during Thursday's trade-a-palooza all know what's expected of their new franchise. They've come to a team that's gone to three consecutive Finals, anchored by one of the greatest to ever play who's gunning for an eighth straight Finals berth. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-february-11-2018

Daily News - February 11, 2018

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