In truth, the Ted Stepien Cleveland Cavaliers have a multitude of regretful trades. So many so that the NBA instituted the “Stepien Rule”, forbidding teams from trading consecutive first round picks.
Stepien traded away so many draft picks for seemingly nothing in return. Numerous picks eventually ended up with potential for NBA legends, such as John Stockton, James Worthy, Charles Barkley, and more.
When the Association invents a rule just to stop your owner from intentionally ruining your franchise, you have a tough history in the trade market. Though teams find plenty of ways around this stipulation, its existence might be the biggest way the Cavaliers have impacted the NBA.