How a single trade helped the Cleveland Cavaliers secure the number one pick
In short: The 2011 NBA draft is remembered as a legendary talent pool, but the order of selection was decided by a stroke of luck. While the worst team held the highest odds, a strategic trade involving the Los Clippers handed the top spot to Cleveland.
On June 23, 2011, at the Prudential Center in Newark, the NBA held a draft that would become one of the most talent-rich in league history. The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the night with the first overall selection, a position they secured through a February 2011 trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that brought them Baron Davis in exchange for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. This allowed them to select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving.
The draft order was not purely based on performance, but determined by a lottery held on May 17, 2011, in Secaucus, New Jersey. While the Minnesota Timberwolves held the best odds for the top spot, they ultimately landed the second pick. The Cavaliers' ascent to the first pick was fueled by a 22.7% combined probability, which included a significant 2.8% boost from the Clippers' secondary pick.
The depth of this class was remarkable. Seven players from this group would go on to earn multiple All-Star appearances, and six reached at least one All-NBA Team, including Isaiah Thomas, who was selected with the very last pick of the draft. The draft also showcased a global reach, featuring 12 international players who arrived without prior U.S. college experience, including the first player ever selected from Qatar.
Even the 'green room' invites—a curated list of the top 17 prospects voted on by team executives—were subject to debate. Future stars like Nikola Vučević and Jimmy Butler were notably absent from the initial prestigious invitation list, proving that the league's scouting eyes can sometimes miss the legends of tomorrow.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2011 NBA draft
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