5. 1970
The expansion Cavaliers had the seventh pick in the draft, long after the likes of Bob Lanier, Pete Maravich, Dave Cowens and Rudy Tomjanovich had been taken. Having come from the Big Ten, new Cavs head coach Bill Fitch selected Iowa forward John Johnson, who put together a decent 12-year career. Two smaller guards that Cleveland would have done better with were second rounders Calvin Murphy and Nate Archibald, while other players of note included Dan Issel, Randy Smith, Garfield Heard, Sam Lacey and Charlie Scott. Issel and Scott had already signed to play in the ABA when the draft was conducted.
