Factory Of Sadness
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Re-drafting the Cleveland Cavaliers rookies from 2000-2003 (Pre-LeBron Era)

By Chad Porto

Carlos Boozer of the Cleveland Cavaliers speaks during a press conference for the NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 13, 2004. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
Carlos Boozer of the Cleveland Cavaliers speaks during a press conference for the NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 13, 2004. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard Dajuan Wagner (R) drives against Houston Rockets’ guard Steve Francis (L) in the third quarter of ther NBA game 05 February 2003 at Gund Arena in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated Houston 105-102. AFP Photo/David Maxwell (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read DAVID MAXWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard Dajuan Wagner (R) drives against Houston Rockets’ guard Steve Francis (L) in the third quarter of ther NBA game 05 February 2003 at Gund Arena in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated Houston 105-102. AFP Photo/David Maxwell (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read DAVID MAXWELL/AFP via Getty Images) /

2002 – Draft Picks No. 6 and 35

1st Round

Drafted:  Dajuan Wagner
Re-Drafted: Caron Butler

2nd Round

Drafted: Carlos Boozer
Re-Drafted: Carlos Boozer

Dajuan Wagner was an absolute bust for the Cavs. He couldn’t shoot 40% from the field and barely hit 30% from three-point land. He was so overhyped.

Going with Amar’s Stoudamire or Caron Butler would obviously be the candidates at this spot. While Stoudamire makes sense, as he could play PF/C in the Cavs system, at this time you have Chris Mihm, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and DeSagna Diop at Center. Plus, with the fact, the team takes Carlos Boozer in the second round, and he’s too good not to still get, picking Stoudamire and Boozer in the same draft would be problematic for rotations.

So Butler makes the most sense instead of Stoudamire. Butler is versatile, able to play shooting guard of small forward, making it possible that a LeBron James team could have Butler, James, and Boozer at the two, three, and four spots in the following years; assuming they could still get James.

Boozer also is a better long term prospect than Stoudamire. Remember, by 2011 Stoudamire was done as a reliable starter in the league due to injuries. Boozer was putting up nearly a double-double until he left the league following the end of the 2014 season.

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