2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 47th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). For the first time in franchise history, the Cavaliers entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the NBA Finals where they came back from a 3–1 deficit, becoming the first team in NBA Finals history to do so. The Cavaliers also broke the record of most made three-pointers in a regular season game with 25 against the Atlanta Hawks .[ 1]
The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a 51–31 record, securing the 2nd seed. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated and swept the Indiana Pacers in four games in the First Round, advancing to the Semi-finals. They then defeated and swept the Toronto Raptors in four games, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals. They defeated the Boston Celtics in five games to advance to the NBA Finals for the third straight season. In the 2017 NBA Finals , the Cavaliers faced off against the Golden State Warriors for the third consecutive year, becoming the first two teams to meet three consecutive times in the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers would lose in five games against the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
After the season, David Griffin left as general manager and after hearing about trade rumors, most notably a 3-team deal that was confirmed by team and league sources that would've sent Paul George and Eric Bledsoe to the Cavaliers and Kyrie Irving and Channing Frye to the Phoenix Suns , Irving, not being content about the situation and per his request, was traded to the Boston Celtics [ 2] for Jae Crowder , Isaiah Thomas , Ante Žižić , a 2018 1st round draft pick (Collin Sexton was later selected), and a 2020 2nd round draft pick (Skylar Mays was later selected) was added as compensation for Isaiah Thomas's injury.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] This trade ended the superteam era of the Cavaliers.[ 6] [ 3] [ 7]
Offseason
Draft
Notes
^ The Cavaliers did not have a pick walking in to the 2016 NBA Draft. Cleveland traded for the rights of PG Kay Felder , who the Atlanta Hawks selected with the 54th pick in the 2nd round, in exchange for cash considerations.
Roster
2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
20
Felder, Kay
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
176 lb (80 kg)
1995–03–29
Oakland
F
8
Frye, Channing
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
1983–05–17
Arizona
G
2
Irving, Kyrie
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1992–03–23
Duke
F
23
James, LeBron
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1984–12–30
St. Vincent-St. Mary HS (OH)
F
24
Jefferson, Richard
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
233 lb (106 kg)
1980–06–21
Arizona
G
30
Jones, Dahntay
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1980–12–27
Duke
F
1
Jones, James
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
1980–10–04
Miami (FL)
F
26
Korver, Kyle
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
212 lb (96 kg)
1981–03–17
Creighton
F
0
Love, Kevin
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
251 lb (114 kg)
1988–09–07
UCLA
G
4
Shumpert, Iman
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1990–06–26
Georgia Tech
G
5
Smith, J. R.
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1985–09–09
Saint Benedict's Preparatory (NJ)
C
40
Tavares, Walter
7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
1992–03–22
Cape Verde
F/C
13
Thompson, Tristan
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1991–03–13
Texas
G
31
Williams, Deron
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1984–06–26
Illinois
F
3
Williams, Derrick
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1991–05–25
Arizona
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate Injured
Roster Last transaction: 2017–05–08
Standings
Division
Conference
Game log
Preseason
2016 pre-season game log Total: 2–4 (home: 2–2; road: 0–2)
Pre-season: 2–4 (home: 2–2; road: 0–2)
2016–17 season schedule
Regular season
2016–17 game log Total: 51–31 (home: 31–10; road: 20–21)
October: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
November: 10–3 (home: 7–1; road: 3–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
4
November 1[ n 1]
Houston
128–120
Kyrie Irving (32)
LeBron James (13)
LeBron James (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
4–0
5
November 3
Boston
128–122
LeBron James (30)
Tristan Thompson (14)
LeBron James (12)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
5–0
6
November 5
@ Philadelphia
102–101
LeBron James (25)
Tristan Thompson (13)
LeBron James (14)
Wells Fargo Center 20,497
6–0
7
November 8
Atlanta
106–110
Kyrie Irving (29)
Kevin Love (12)
LeBron James (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
6–1
8
November 11
@ Washington
105–94
Kyrie Irving (29)
Kevin Love (16)
Kyrie Irving (6)
Verizon Center 20,356
7–1
9
November 13
Charlotte
100–93
Channing Frye (20)
Tristan Thompson (12)
LeBron James (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
8–1
10
November 15
Toronto
121–117
LeBron James (28)
Kevin Love (13)
LeBron James (14)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
9–1
11
November 16
@ Indiana
93–103
Kevin Love (27)
Kevin Love (16)
Kyrie Irving (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17,923
9–2
12
November 18
Detroit
104–81
Kyrie Irving (25)
Tristan Thompson (14)
Kyrie Irving (11)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
10–2
13
November 23
Portland
137–125
Kevin Love (40)
LeBron James (10)
LeBron James (13)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
11–2
14
November 25
Dallas
128–90
Kevin Love (27)
Tristan Thompson (12)
LeBron James (11)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
12–2
15
November 27
@ Philadelphia
112–108
Kyrie Irving (39)
Tristan Thompson (12)
LeBron James (13)
Wells Fargo Center 20,497
13–2
16
November 29
@ Milwaukee
101–118
LeBron James (22)
Kevin Love (13)
LeBron James (4)
Bradley Center 18,717
13–3
December: 12–4 (home: 8–1; road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
17
December 1
L.A. Clippers
94–113
Kyrie Irving (28)
Tristan Thompson (8)
LeBron James (5)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
13–4
18
December 2
@ Chicago
105–111
LeBron James (27)
Kevin Love (19)
LeBron James (13)
United Center 21,775
13–5
19
December 5
@ Toronto
116–112
LeBron James (34)
Love , Thompson (14)
LeBron James (7)
Air Canada Centre 19,800
14–5
20
December 7
@ New York
126–94
Kyrie Irving (28)
Tristan Thompson (20)
LeBron James (7)
Madison Square Garden 19,812
15–5
21
December 9
Miami
114–84
Kevin Love (28)
Kevin Love (15)
LeBron James (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
16–5
22
December 10
Charlotte
116–105
LeBron James (44)
Tristan Thompson (12)
LeBron James (10)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
17–5
23
December 13
Memphis
103–86
Kevin Love (29)
Kevin Love (13)
LeBron James (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
18–5
24
December 14
@ Memphis
85–93
James Jones (15)
Tristan Thompson (11)
Kay Felder (4)
FedEx Forum 17,449
18–6
25
December 17
L.A. Lakers
119–108
Kevin Love (24)
Kevin Love (17)
Kyrie Irving (12)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
19–6
26
December 20
@ Milwaukee
114–108 (OT)
LeBron James (34)
James , Thompson (12)
LeBron James (7)
BMO Harris Bradley Center 17,053
20–6
27
December 21
Milwaukee
113–102
Kyrie Irving (31)
Tristan Thompson (15)
Kyrie Irving (13)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
21–6
28
December 23
Brooklyn
119–99
LeBron James (19)
Kevin Love (15)
LeBron James (10)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
22–6
29
December 25
Golden State
109–108
LeBron James (31)
LeBron James (13)
Kyrie Irving (10)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
23–6
30
December 26
@ Detroit
90–106
Kyrie Irving (18)
Kevin Love (14)
Kyrie Irving (8)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 18,123
23–7
31
December 29
Boston
124–118
Kyrie Irving (32)
Kevin Love (15)
Kyrie Irving (12)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
24–7
32
December 31
@ Charlotte
121–109
LeBron James (32)
Kevin Love (10)
LeBron James (9)
Spectrum Center 19,519
25–7
January: 7–8 (home: 4–3; road: 3–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
33
January 2
New Orleans
90–82
LeBron James (26)
Richard Jefferson (12)
LeBron James (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
26–7
34
January 4
Chicago
94–106
LeBron James (31)
Tristan Thompson (11)
LeBron James (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
26–8
35
January 6
@ Brooklyn
116–108
LeBron James (36)
Kevin Love (13)
LeBron James (6)
Barclays Center 17,732
27–8
36
January 8
@ Phoenix
120–116
LeBron James (28)
Love , Thompson (10)
Kyrie Irving (7)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 18,055
28–8
37
January 10
@ Utah
92–100
LeBron James (29)
Tristan Thompson (12)
LeBron James (5)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 19,911
28–9
38
January 11
@ Portland
86–102
LeBron James (20)
LeBron James (11)
LeBron James (4)
Moda Center 17,212
28–10
39
January 13
@ Sacramento
120–108
Kyrie Irving (26)
Kevin Love (18)
LeBron James (15)
Golden 1 Center 17,156
29–10
40
January 16
@ Golden State
91–126
LeBron James (20)
LeBron James (8)
Kay Felder (3)
Oracle Arena 19,596
29–11
41
January 19
Phoenix
118–103
Kyrie Irving (26)
LeBron James (9)
LeBron James (15)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
30–11
42
January 21
San Antonio
115–118
James , Irving (29)
Tristan Thompson (12)
Kyrie Irving (9)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
30–12
43
January 23
@ New Orleans
122–124
Kyrie Irving (49)
Kevin Love (16)
LeBron James (12)
Smoothie King Center 17,758
30–13
44
January 25
Sacramento
112–116 (OT)
LeBron James (24)
Kevin Love (16)
LeBron James (11)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
30–14
45
January 27
Brooklyn
124–116
LeBron James (31)
Kevin Love (14)
LeBron James (11)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
31–14
46
January 29
Oklahoma City
107–91
Kyrie Irving (29)
LeBron James (14)
Kyrie Irving (10)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
32–14
47
January 30
@ Dallas
97–104
LeBron James (23)
LeBron James (9)
LeBron James (9)
American Airlines Center 20,202
32–15
February: 9–2 (home: 5–1; road: 4–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
48
February 1
Minnesota
125–97
LeBron James (27)
Tristan Thompson (14)
Kyrie Irving (14)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
33–15
49
February 4
@ New York
111–104
LeBron James (32)
Kevin Love (15)
LeBron James (10)
Madison Square Garden 19,812
34–15
50
February 6
@ Washington
140–135 (OT)
Kevin Love (39)
Love , Thompson (12)
LeBron James (17)
Verizon Center 20,356
35–15
51
February 8
@ Indiana
132–117
Irving , Korver (29)
Love , Thompson (10)
LeBron James (9)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17,580
36–15
52
February 9
@ Oklahoma City
109–118
Kyrie Irving (28)
Kevin Love (12)
LeBron James (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
36–16
53
February 11
Denver
125–109
James , Irving (27)
Tristan Thompson (13)
LeBron James (12)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
37–16
54
February 14
@ Minnesota
116–108
James , Irving (25)
Tristan Thompson (11)
LeBron James (14)
Target Center 17,738
38–16
55
February 15
Indiana
113–104
LeBron James (31)
Tristan Thompson (12)
Kyrie Irving (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
39–16
56
February 23
New York
119–104
Kyrie Irving (23)
Tristan Thompson (15)
LeBron James (14)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
40–16
57
February 25
Chicago
99–117
Kyrie Irving (34)
Irving , Thompson (9)
Kyrie Irving (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
40–17
58
February 27
Milwaukee
102–95
Kyrie Irving (25)
LeBron James (10)
LeBron James (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
41–17
March: 7–10 (home: 3–2; road: 4–8)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
59
March 1
@ Boston
99–103
LeBron James (28)
James , Thompson (13)
LeBron James (10)
TD Garden 18,624
41–18
60
March 3
@ Atlanta
135–130
Kyrie Irving (43)
LeBron James (13)
Kyrie Irving (9)
Philips Arena 18,877
42–18
61
March 4
@ Miami
92–120
Channing Frye (21)
DeAndre Liggins (8)
Deron Williams (7)
AmericanAirlines Arena 19,600
42–19
62
March 6
Miami
98–106
Kyrie Irving (32)
LeBron James (17)
LeBron James (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
42–20
63
March 9
@ Detroit
101–106
LeBron James (29)
LeBron James (13)
LeBron James (10)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 19,421
42–21
64
March 11
@ Orlando
116–104
LeBron James (24)
Tristan Thompson (13)
LeBron James (13)
Amway Center 18,846
43–21
65
March 12
@ Houston
112–117
LeBron James (30)
Tristan Thompson (8)
Kyrie Irving (8)
Toyota Center 18,055
43–22
66
March 14
Detroit
128–96
Kyrie Irving (26)
LeBron James (11)
LeBron James (12)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
44–22
67
March 16
Utah
91–83
LeBron James (33)
LeBron James (10)
LeBron James (6)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
45–22
68
March 18
@ L.A. Clippers
78–108
Richard Jefferson (12)
Jefferson , Smith , Thompson (6)
Deron Williams (5)
Staples Center 19,096
45–23
69
March 19
@ L.A. Lakers
125–120
Kyrie Irving (46)
Kevin Love (15)
LeBron James (7)
Staples Center 19,812
46–23
70
March 22
@ Denver
113–126
Kyrie Irving (33)
Kevin Love (7)
LeBron James (5)
Pepsi Center 19,718
46–24
71
March 24
@ Charlotte
112–105
LeBron James (32)
Kevin Love (11)
LeBron James (12)
Spectrum Center 19,511
47–24
72
March 25
Washington
115–127
LeBron James (24)
LeBron James (11)
LeBron James (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
47–25
73
March 27
@ San Antonio
74–103
LeBron James (17)
LeBron James (8)
LeBron James (8)
AT&T Center 18,418
47–26
74
March 30
@ Chicago
93–99
LeBron James (26)
James , Love (10)
LeBron James (8)
United Center 22,282
47–27
75
March 31
Philadelphia
122–105
LeBron James (34)
Tristan Thompson (11)
Kyrie Irving (9)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
48–27
April: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2)
2016–17 season schedule
Playoffs
2017 playoff game log Total: 13–5 (home: 6–2; road: 7–3)
First Round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 1–1; road: 3–0)
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
2017 playoff schedule
Player statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Cavaliers only.
Transactions
Trades
Free agency
Re-signed
Additions
Subtractions
Notes
^ The start time for the November 1st home game against the Houston Rockets was moved to 6 pm EST, to accommodate Game 6 of the MLB World Series at Progressive Field across the street from Quicken Loans Arena, between the Indians and the Chicago Cubs.[ 8]
References
^ McMenamin, Dave (March 4, 2017). "Cavaliers set NBA single-game mark with 25 3s" . ESPN.com . ESPN. Retrieved April 22, 2017 .
^ Timothy Rapp (January 3, 2018). "Report: Kyrie Irving Trade for Paul George, Eric Bledsoe Was Explored by Cavs" . Bleacher Report . Retrieved April 25, 2021 .
^ a b Goodman, Jeff; Wojnarowski, Adrian (August 22, 2017). "Cavaliers send Kyrie Irving to Celtics in deal including Isaiah Thomas, Nets 2018 pick" . Retrieved April 25, 2021 .
^ Rohan Nadkarni (August 22, 2017). "Trade Grades: Cavs Send Kyrie Irving to Celtics for Package Including Isaiah Thomas" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved April 25, 2021 .
^ Adrian Wojnarowski (August 30, 2017). "Cavs add second-round pick from Celtics to complete Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade" . ESPN . Retrieved April 25, 2021 .
^ Chris Mannix (July 24, 2017). "How Kyrie Irving has ended the super-team Cavs as we know them" . Yahoo! Sports . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ Matt Ellentuck (August 30, 2017). "Kyrie Irving trade to Celtics finalized with Boston adding 2020 second-round pick" . SB Nation . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ 2016 Cleveland Indians season Wikipedia page
^ "Cavs acquire draft rights to Kay Felder from Atlanta" . nba.com/cavaliers . June 23, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers sign Kay Felder" . nba.com/cavaliers . August 6, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers complete trade with Milwaukee Bucks" . nba.com/cavaliers . July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers acquire forward Mike Dunleavy from Chicago" . nba.com/cavaliers . July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers complete trade with Philadelphia 76ers" . nba.com/cavaliers . July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers acquire Kyle Korver from Hawks" . nba.com/cavaliers . January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017 .
^ "Cavaliers complete trade with Charlotte" . nba.com/cavaliers . February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017 .
^ "Cavaliers re-sign forward Richard Jefferson" . nba.com/cavaliers . July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers re-sign forward James Jones" . nba.com/cavaliers . August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers and LeBron James sign multi-year contract" . nba.com/cavaliers . August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers re-sign guard J.R. Smith" . nba.com/cavaliers . October 15, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers sign center Chris Andersen" . nba.com/cavaliers . July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016 .
^ "Cavs sign Derrick Williams to 10-day contract" . nba.com/cavaliers . February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017 .
^ "Cavs sign Deron Williams" . nba.com/cavaliers . February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017 .
^ "Cavs sign Andrew Bogut" . nba.com/cavaliers . March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017 .
^ "Cavaliers sign Larry Sanders" . nba.com/cavaliers . March 13, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017 .
^ "Lakers sign Timofey Mozgov" . nba.com/lakers . July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016 .
^ "Cavaliers waive Jordan McRae" . nba.com/cavaliers . March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017 .
^ "Cavaliers waive DeAndre Liggins" . nba.com/cavaliers . April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017 .
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