Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Redrafting the Cleveland Cavaliers rookies from 2004-2009 (LeBron James Era)

By Chad Porto

LeBron James (R) of Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball against Pat Garrity (C) and Hedo Turkoglu of Orlando Magic during their NBA pre-season game at the Venetian Macao in Macau, 20 October 2007. Orlando Magic won 100-84. AFP PHOTO/Ted ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)
LeBron James (R) of Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball against Pat Garrity (C) and Hedo Turkoglu of Orlando Magic during their NBA pre-season game at the Venetian Macao in Macau, 20 October 2007. Orlando Magic won 100-84. AFP PHOTO/Ted ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 15: Head coach Byron Scott talks with Daniel Gibson #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during a time out in the first half against the New York Knicks on December 15, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 15: Head coach Byron Scott talks with Daniel Gibson #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during a time out in the first half against the New York Knicks on December 15, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2006 – Draft Pick No. 25, 42

1st Round

Drafted: Shannon Brown
Re-Drafted: Steve Novak

2nd Round

Drafted: Daniel “Boobie” Gibson
Re-Drafted: Paul Millsap

This draft isn’t hard to give a pass to for how bad it was for the Cavs. Guys like LaMarcus Aldridge, J.J. Reddick, and Rajon Rondo were off the board here. Shannon Brown wasn’t a bad selection for the pick (25th) that the Cavs had. After Brown, who was left? P.J. Tucker put together a good career after a while. As did the second-round pick, Daniel Gibson. That was really it though, save for the two names the Cavs should’ve taken; Steve Novak and Paul Millsap.

While Novak wasn’t a game-changer by any means, with the way LeBron James used wings who could shoot three’s, Novak would’ve found a home for a while. Novak often shot near 50% from the floor from the three-point line. He’d never be an All-Star with the Cavs but he might have averaged more than 10 points a few times in his career.

As for the second-round pick, that’s obviously going to be Paul Millsap. A true All-Star caliber big, who yes can’t shoot the three nearly as well, can in fact post up and clear space for James on all sorts of plays.

The duo of Novak and Millsap could’ve seen instant minutes. With Gibson not being drafted by the Cavs, and with players similar to Drew Gooden, Sasha Pavlovic, and Ira Newble being drafted, it’s not hard to see how each player could’ve gotten 20 minutes a game as rookies. Especially if they produced when they were put in.

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