1987–88 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 1987-88 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 18th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers acquired Larry Nance from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for top draft pick Kevin Johnson in a midseason trade, and finished 4th in the Central Division with a 42–40 record. Second-year star Brad Daugherty was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. Second-year guard Ron Harper played just 57 games due to injury. In the first round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers lost in five games to the Chicago Bulls.
Key Dates:Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 7 | Kevin Johnson | Guard | | California |
| 2 | 41* | Kannard Johnson | Forward | | Western Kentucky |
| 3 | 52 | Donald Royal | Forward | | Notre Dame |
| 4 | 75 | Chris Dudley | Center | | Yale |
| 4 | 80** | Carven Holcombe | Guard | | TCU |
| 5 | 98 | Carl Lott | Guard | | TCU |
| 6 | 121 | Harold Jensen | Guard | | Villanova |
| 7 | 144 | Michael Foster | Guard | | South Carolina |
*2nd round pick acquired from Milwaukee in Paul Thompson deal.
**5th round pick acquired from Indiana in Ron Anderson deal.Roster
Player Salaries
Regular season
Season standings
Notes
- z, y – division champions
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
Game log
November
Record: ; Home: ; Road:
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Leading scorer | Attendance | Record |
| 1 | | | | | | | | |
December
Record: ; Home: ; Road:
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Leading scorer | Attendance | Record |
| | | | | | | | |
January
Record: ; Home: ; Road:
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Leading scorer | Attendance | Record |
| | | | | | | | |
February
Record: ; Home: ; Road:
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Leading scorer | Attendance | Record |
| | | | | | | | |
March
Record: ; Home: ; Road:
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Leading scorer | Attendance | Record |
| | | | | | | | |
April
Record: ; Home: ; Road:
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Leading scorer | Attendance | Record |
| | | | | | | | |
Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; GS = Games started; MIN= Minutes; FG% = field goal %, FT% = free throw %, 3FG% = 3 point % STL= Steals; BLK = Blocks; AST = Assists; REB = Rebounds; PTS = Points
Regular Season
PlayoffsAwards and records
Awards
Records
Milestones
All-Star
Transactions
Trades
Free Agents
Development League
