1985–86 Cleveland Cavaliers season

1985–86 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coach
General managerHarry Weltman
Owners
ArenaColiseum at Richfield
Results
Record29–53 (.354)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Central)
Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWUAB
RadioWWWE
< 1984–85 1986–87 >

The 1985–86 NBA season was the Cavaliers' 16th season in the NBA.

The season saw the team draft Charles Oakley and John "Hot Rod" Williams with the 9th and 45th picks in the 1985 NBA draft, respectively. Oakley's draft rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls. Williams played in the United States Basketball League during the 1986 season, as he was unable to play in the NBA due to a trial in which he was charged for sports bribery and conspiracy.[1] However, Williams would later spend nine seasons with the Cavaliers franchise starting in the 1986–87 season.[2]

The Cavaliers finished the season with a 29–53 record, missing the playoffs.

NBA draft

Main article: 1985 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 9 Charles Oakley PF/C  United States Virginia Union
2 30 Calvin Duncan  United States Virginia Commonwealth
2 45 Hot Rod Williams PF/C  United States Tulane
3 55 Herb Johnson PF/C  United States Tulsa
4 79 Mark Davis F  United States Old Dominion
5 101 Gunther Behnke  Germany
6 125 Ricky Johnson  United States Illinois State
7 147 Buzz Peterson  United States North Carolina

Roster

1985–86 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 5 Bagley, John 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960-04-23 Boston College
SG 10 Brewer, Ron 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955-07-16 Arkansas
SG 21 Free, World B. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1953-12-09 Guilford
SF 32 Hinson, Roy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961-05-02 Rutgers
SF 35 Hubbard, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1956-12-13 Michigan
SG 3 Johnson, Jr., Eddie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955-02-24 Auburn
PF 44 Jones, Edgar 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1956-06-17 Nevada
PF 24 Lee, Keith 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962-12-28 Memphis
SF 33 McDonald, Ben 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962-07-20 UC Irvine
PG 14 Minniefield, Dirk 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961-01-17 Kentucky
PF 50 Poquette, Ben 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1955-05-07 Central Michigan
PF 8 Shelton, Lonnie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1955-10-19 Oregon State
C 54 Turpin, Melvin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1960-12-28 Kentucky
C 41 West, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960-11-05 Old Dominion
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 16, 1986

Regular season

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 57 25 .695 – 33–8 24–17 21–9
x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 7 34–7 16–25 21–9
x-Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 11 31–10 15–26 18–12
x-Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 27 22–19 8–33 10–20
Cleveland Cavaliers 29 53 .354 28 16–25 13–28 10–19
Indiana Pacers 26 56 .317 31 19–22 7–34 9–20
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 67 15 .817 –
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks 57 25 .695 10
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 54 28 .659 13
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 17
5 x-Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 21
6 x-Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 28
7 x-New Jersey Nets 39 43 .476 28
8 x-Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 37
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 29 53 .354 38
10 Indiana Pacers 26 56 .317 41
11 New York Knicks 23 59 .280 44
Notes
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1985-86 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 0–6 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 4–2 5–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4
Boston 6–0 – 5–1 5–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 5–0 4–2 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1
Chicago 1–5 1–5 – 3–3 0–2 2–0 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4
Cleveland 2–4 1–5 3–3 – 1–1 1–1 1–5 0–2 0–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 3–3 4–1 0–6 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5
Dallas 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 – 3–3 0–2 4–1 1–5 2–0 2–3 1–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 5–0 2–3 3–3 4–2 3–2 5–1 1–1
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 – 1–1 3–2 3–3 2–0 4–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 3–2 3–3 3–3 2–3 3–3 2–0
Detroit 2–4 1–4 4–2 5–1 2–0 1–1 – 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 4–2 4–1 2–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–2
Golden State 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 2–3 1–1 – 0–5 1–1 5–1 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 2–3 2–3 2–4 2–3 1–1
Houston 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 5–0 – 2–0 3–2 1–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 3–2 4–2 5–1 3–2 3–3 2–0
Indiana 1–5 1–5 3–3 2–3 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–1 0–2 – 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–6 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 5–1
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 0–2 1–5 2–3 0–2 – 2–4 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 5–0 1–4 3–3 3–2 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–3 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 4–2 – 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 6–0 5–0 4–1 4–2 5–0 2–0
Milwaukee 3–3 0–5 5–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 – 4–2 6–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
New Jersey 2–4 2–4 3–2 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 – 5–1 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–4
New York 1–5 1–5 2–4 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 1–1 0–2 4–2 0–2 1–1 0–6 1–5 – 0–6 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–3
Philadelphia 1–4 2–4 5–1 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 6–0 2–0 0–2 1–4 4–2 6–0 – 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3
Phoenix 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 1–4 2–0 4–2 2–3 1–1 4–2 1–5 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 – 2–4 2–3 3–2 5–1 1–4 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 2–0 4–2 0–6 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 – 3–2 1–4 5–1 2–3 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 2–0 3–2 2–4 2–0 0–5 0–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 – 5–1 5–0 2–4 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 3–3 1–1 3–2 1–5 1–1 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 4–1 1–5 – 2–3 2–4 2–0
Seattle 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 0–2 4–2 2–3 0–2 3–3 2–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–5 0–5 3–2 – 2–3 1–1
Utah 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–5 3–3 1–1 3–2 3–3 2–0 2–3 0–5 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 4–2 4–2 3–2 – 1–1
Washington 4–1 1–5 4–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 2–4 4–2 3–3 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 —

Regular season

Game log

1985–86 game log
Total: 29–53 (Home: 16–25; Road: 13–28)
October: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 25, 1985 @ Chicago
2 October 26, 1985 Boston
November: 6–7 (home: 2–3; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
11 November 16, 1985 @ Chicago
12 November 19, 1985 Golden State
15 November 24, 1985 Atlanta W 98–90 Coliseum at Richfield
6,145 		6–9
16 November 26, 1985 @ Detroit
December: 7–8 (home: 4–6; road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
20 December 7, 1985 Denver
21 December 10, 1985 Detroit
24 December 14, 1985 Boston
25 December 17, 1985 Houston
28 December 22, 1985 Dallas
30 December 27, 1985 @ Detroit
32 December 30, 1985 Chicago
January: 4–11 (home: 4–3; road: 0–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
36 January 8, 1986 @ Boston
39 January 16, 1986 @ Atlanta L 99–116 The Omni
4,961 		16–23
42 January 22, 1986 Detroit
44 January 27, 1986 @ Denver
45 January 28, 1986 @ Houston
47 January 31, 1986 @ Dallas
February: 5–7 (home: 4–4; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
48 February 4, 1986 Atlanta L 104–105 Coliseum at Richfield
6,702 		18–30
55 February 20, 1986 Detroit
58 February 26, 1986 @ Atlanta L 109–129 The Omni
6,504 		23–35
59 February 28, 1986 @ Chicago
March: 5–10 (home: 1–5; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
63 March 8, 1986 @ Golden State
69 March 18, 1986 vs. Boston
(at Hartford, CT)
71 March 22, 1986 Chicago
72 March 25, 1986 Atlanta L 91–97 Coliseum at Richfield
7,178 		26–46
74 March 29, 1986 @ Atlanta W 123–105 The Omni
9,056 		28–46
April: 1–7 (home: 1–2; road: 0–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
75 April 1, 1986 Boston
79 April 7, 1986 @ Detroit
81 April 11, 1986 @ Boston
82 April 13, 1986 Chicago
1985–86 schedule

Player stats

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
World B. Free 75 75 33.8 45.5 42.0 78.0 2.9 4.2 1.2 0.3 23.4
Roy Hinson 82 82 34.6 53.2 0.0 71.9 7.8 1.2 0.8 1.4 19.6
Melvin Turpin 80 69 28.7 54.4 0.0 81.1 7.0 0.7 0.8 1.3 13.7
John Bagley 78 77 31.7 42.3 24.3 79.1 3.5 9.4 1.6 0.1 11.7
Phil Hubbard 23 21 27.8 47.0 0.0 67.9 5.2 1.3 0.9 0.1 11.4
Eddie Johnson 32 4 19.2 44.0 36.9 73.3 1.4 3.6 0.3 0.0 9.8
Edgar Jones 53 6 19.1 50.5 30.4 74.2 3.9 0.8 0.6 0.7 9.7
Keith Lee 58 38 20.6 46.6 22.2 78.1 6.1 1.2 0.5 0.6 7.4
Johnny Davis 39 0 15.7 43.0 18.2 84.8 0.9 2.7 0.6 0.1 7.0
Dirk Minniefield 76 2 14.9 48.1 27.0 78.5 1.7 3.5 0.9 0.0 5.5
Ron Brewer 40 3 13.8 38.6 29.4 89.2 1.3 1.0 0.4 0.2 5.1
Ron Anderson 17 3 12.2 50.0 0.0 75.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.0 5.1
Ben Poquette 81 3 18.5 47.7 20.0 72.0 4.6 1.0 0.4 0.4 5.0
Lonnie Shelton 44 1 15.5 48.9 0.0 87.5 3.3 1.4 0.5 0.1 4.5
Mark West 67 26 17.5 54.1 0.0 52.4 4.8 0.3 0.4 0.9 4.2
Ben McDonald 21 0 12.7 48.3 0.0 62.5 1.8 0.4 0.3 0.0 2.9
Ennis Whatley 8 0 8.3 47.4 0.0 57.1 0.9 1.6 0.6 0.0 2.8

Player Statistics Citation:[3]

Transactions

Trades

June 18, 1985
(Draft day) 		To Cleveland Cavaliers
Draft rights to Keith Lee
Ennis Whatley 		To Chicago Bulls
Draft rights to Charles Oakley
Draft rights to Calvin Duncan
December 10, 1985 To Cleveland Cavaliers
1987 fourth-round pick 		To Indiana Pacers
Ron Anderson
February 10, 1986 To Cleveland Cavaliers
Eddie Johnson 		To Atlanta Hawks
Johnny Davis
June 16, 1986 To Cleveland Cavaliers
1986 first-round pick 		To Philadelphia 76ers
Roy Hinson
Cash considerations

Free agents

Additions
Player Date signed Former team
Derrick Rowland September 5 N/A
Dirk Minniefield September 11 Louisville Catbirds (CBA)
Ron Brewer January 11 Chicago Bulls
Ben McDonald March 4 Magia Huesca (Spain)
Subtractions
Player Reason Left New team
Mark Davis Waived Pensacola Tornados (CBA)
Kevin Williams Waived Tampa Bay Thrillers (CBA)
Derrick Rowland Waived Milwaukee Bucks
Ennis Whatley Waived Washington Bullets

References

  1. ^ Recent Scandals: BC, Tulane and Northwestern
  2. ^ Hot Rod Williams Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
  3. ^ "1985-86 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 10, 2021.