The 1985–86 Cleveland Cavaliers 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.Recent Scandals: BC, Tulane and Northwestern However, Williams would later spend nine seasons with the Cavaliers franchise starting in the 1986–87 season.Hot Rod Williams Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
The Cavaliers finished the season with a 29–53 record, missing the playoffs.
NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 9 Charles Oakley PF/C Virginia Union 2 30 Calvin Duncan Virginia Commonwealth 2 45 Hot Rod Williams PF/C Tulane 3 55 Herb Johnson PF/C Tulsa 4 79 Mark Davis F Old Dominion 5 101 Gunther Behnke 6 125 Ricky Johnson Illinois State 7 147 Buzz Peterson North Carolina
Roster
Regular season
Notes z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot
Game log
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 1 || October 25, 1985 || @ Chicago |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || October 26, 1985 || Boston
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 11 || November 16, 1985 || @ Chicago |-style="background:#fcc;" | 12 || November 19, 1985 || Golden State |-style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || November 24, 1985 || Atlanta | W 98–90
| Coliseum at Richfield6,145 | 6–9 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 16 || November 26, 1985 || @ Detroit
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 20 || December 7, 1985 || Denver |-style="background:#fcc;" | 21 || December 10, 1985 || Detroit |-style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || December 14, 1985 || Boston |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 || December 17, 1985 || Houston |-style="background:#cfc;" | 28 || December 22, 1985 || Dallas |-style="background:#cfc;" | 30 || December 27, 1985 || @ Detroit |-style="background:#fcc;" | 32 || December 30, 1985 || Chicago
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 36 || January 8, 1986 || @ Boston |-style="background:#fcc;" | 39 || January 16, 1986 || @ Atlanta | L 99–116
| The Omni4,961 | 16–23 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 42 || January 22, 1986 || Detroit |-style="background:#fcc;" | 44 || January 27, 1986 || @ Denver |-style="background:#fcc;" | 45 || January 28, 1986 || @ Houston |-style="background:#fcc;" | 47 || January 31, 1986 || @ Dallas
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 48 || February 4, 1986 || Atlanta | L 104–105
| Coliseum at Richfield6,702 | 18–30 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 55 || February 20, 1986 || Detroit |-style="background:#fcc;" | 58 || February 26, 1986 || @ Atlanta | L 109–129
| The Omni6,504 | 23–35 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 59 || February 28, 1986 || @ Chicago
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 63 || March 8, 1986 || @ Golden State |-style="background:#fcc;" | 69 || March 18, 1986 || vs. Boston(at Hartford, CT) |-style="background:#cfc;" | 71 || March 22, 1986 || Chicago |-style="background:#fcc;" | 72 || March 25, 1986 || Atlanta | L 91–97
| Coliseum at Richfield7,178 | 26–46 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 74 || March 29, 1986 || @ Atlanta | W 123–105
| The Omni9,056 | 28–46
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 75 || April 1, 1986 || Boston |-style="background:#fcc;" | 79 || April 7, 1986 || @ Detroit |-style="background:#fcc;" | 81 || April 11, 1986 || @ Boston |-style="background:#cfc;" | 82 || April 13, 1986 || Chicago
Player stats
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGWorld B. Free757533.845.542.078.02.94.21.20.323.4Roy Hinson828234.653.20.071.97.81.20.81.419.6Melvin Turpin806928.754.40.081.17.00.70.81.313.7John Bagley787731.742.324.379.13.59.41.60.111.7Phil Hubbard232127.847.00.067.95.21.30.90.111.4Eddie Johnson32419.244.036.973.31.43.60.30.09.8Edgar Jones53619.150.530.474.23.90.80.60.79.7Keith Lee583820.646.622.278.16.11.20.50.67.4Johnny Davis39015.743.018.284.80.92.70.60.17.0Dirk Minniefield76214.948.127.078.51.73.50.90.05.5Ron Brewer40313.838.629.489.21.31.00.40.25.1Ron Anderson17312.250.00.075.01.50.50.10.05.1Ben Poquette81318.547.720.072.04.61.00.40.45.0Lonnie Shelton44115.548.90.087.53.31.40.50.14.5Mark West672617.554.10.052.44.80.30.40.94.2Ben McDonald21012.748.30.062.51.80.40.30.02.9Ennis Whatley808.347.40.057.10.91.60.60.02.8
Player statistics citation:
Transactions
Trades June 18, 1985(Draft day) To Cleveland CavaliersDraft rights to Keith LeeEnnis Whatley To Chicago BullsDraft rights to Charles OakleyDraft rights to Calvin Duncan December 10, 1985 To Cleveland Cavaliers1987 fourth-round pick To Indiana PacersRon AndersonFebruary 10, 1986To Cleveland CavaliersEddie JohnsonTo Atlanta HawksJohnny DavisJune 16, 1986To Cleveland Cavaliers1986 first-round pickTo Philadelphia 76ersRoy HinsonCash considerations
Free agents AdditionsPlayerDate signedFormer teamDerrick RowlandSeptember 5N/ADirk MinniefieldSeptember 11Louisville Catbirds (CBA)Ron BrewerJanuary 11Chicago BullsBen McDonaldMarch 4Magia Huesca (Spain)
SubtractionsPlayerReason LeftNew teamMark DavisWaivedPensacola Tornados (CBA)Kevin WilliamsWaivedTampa Bay Thrillers (CBA)Derrick RowlandWaivedMilwaukee BucksEnnis WhatleyWaivedWashington Bullets
References