The 1986-87 Cleveland Cavaliers season was a pivotal year in the franchise’s history, marked by significant roster changes and a challenging campaign on the court. Under the leadership of head coach Lenny Wilkens, the Cavaliers underwent a major transformation, primarily due to a blockbuster trade that sent Roy Hinson to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to the number one overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. This pick was used to select Brad Daugherty, a promising center out of the University of North Carolina, who would become a cornerstone for the team’s future.
Despite the infusion of young talent, the Cavaliers struggled throughout the season, finishing with a record of 31-51. This placed them sixth in the Central Division and out of playoff contention. The team also acquired key players such as Mark Price and Ron Harper, who, along with Daugherty, formed a young core that showed potential for future success. However, the inexperience of the squad was evident as they faced tough competition in the Eastern Conference.
The season was a transitional period for the Cavaliers, laying the groundwork for future success. Although the immediate results were underwhelming, the strategic moves during the 1986-87 season set the stage for the team’s growth in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This season is often remembered as the beginning of a new era for the Cavaliers, highlighting the importance of building a strong foundation through the draft.
- Regular Season Record: 31-51
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats for 1986-87 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ron Harper | 82 | 22.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 21.3 | |||||||
| Brad Daugherty | 80 | 15.7 | 8.1 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Hot Rod Williams | 80 | 14.6 | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Phil Hubbard | 68 | 11.8 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Bagley | 72 | 10.7 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 30.1 | |||||||
| Mark Price | 67 | 6.9 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 32.9 | |||||||
| Mark West | 78 | 6.5 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Craig Ehlo | 44 | 6.2 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 17.2 | |||||||
| Keith Lee | 67 | 6.1 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Melvin Turpin | 64 | 6.1 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Johnny Newman | 59 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 4.5 | |||||||
| Tyrone Corbin | 32 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Scooter McCray | 24 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ben Poquette | 37 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Dirk Minniefield | 11 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
Cleveland Cavaliers 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 113-106 | |
| Nov 02, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 94-89 | |
| Nov 05, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 111-95 | |
| Nov 07, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 115-114 | |
| Nov 08, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 100-93 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 119-114 | |
| Nov 13, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 115-102 | |
| Nov 15, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 111-96 | |
| Nov 16, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 134-106 | |
| Nov 19, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 112-104 | |
| Nov 20, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 108-89 | |
| Nov 22, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 93-84 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 118-114 | |
| Nov 29, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 90-88 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 115-105 | |
| Dec 04, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 113-105 | |
| Dec 06, 1986 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 88-86 | |
| Dec 09, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 122-98 | |
| Dec 11, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 115-94 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 123-120 | |
| Dec 16, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-116 | |
| Dec 17, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-107 | |
| Dec 19, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 134-128 | |
| Dec 21, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 104-94 | |
| Dec 23, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-92 | |
| Dec 26, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 121-112 | |
| Dec 27, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-111 | |
| Dec 29, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-106 | |
| Dec 30, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 111-99 | |
| Jan 02, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 91-84 | |
| Jan 03, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-95 | |
| Jan 06, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 99-95 | |
| Jan 08, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 103-93 | |
| Jan 10, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 129-104 | |
| Jan 13, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 103-101 | |
| Jan 14, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-87 | |
| Jan 16, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 133-128 | |
| Jan 17, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 116-110 | |
| Jan 19, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 127-103 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-107 | |
| Jan 23, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 117-96 | |
| Jan 24, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-84 | |
| Jan 28, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-107 | |
| Jan 29, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 102-91 | |
| Jan 31, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 102-100 | |
| Feb 04, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 104-102 | |
| Feb 05, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 94-85 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 100-95 | |
| Feb 12, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 113-109 | |
| Feb 15, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-104 | |
| Feb 16, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 105-94 | |
| Feb 18, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 129-119 | |
| Feb 19, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-105 | |
| Feb 22, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-98 | |
| Feb 23, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 109-105 | |
| Feb 25, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 106-105 | |
| Feb 28, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 119-117 | |
| Mar 02, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-107 | |
| Mar 03, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 127-122 | |
| Mar 05, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 126-102 | |
| Mar 07, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-118 | |
| Mar 10, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-91 | |
| Mar 12, 1987 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 116-109 | |
| Mar 14, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-104 | |
| Mar 15, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 97-89 | |
| Mar 17, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-91 | |
| Mar 18, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 104-100 | |
| Mar 20, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 106-105 | |
| Mar 21, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 77-76 | |
| Mar 24, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-88 | |
| Mar 27, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 116-113 | |
| Mar 29, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 101-98 | |
| Mar 31, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-105 | |
| Apr 01, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-99 | |
| Apr 04, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 127-111 | |
| Apr 06, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 110-105 | |
| Apr 07, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 107-83 | |
| Apr 09, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-99 | |
| Apr 11, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-93 | |
| Apr 14, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 113-95 | |
| Apr 15, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 110-101 | |
| Apr 18, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 122-113 |