Kevin Love Acquisition

The 2014–15 Cavaliers formed a new superteam and reached the NBA Finals.

The 2014–15 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 45th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season was marked by the publicity the team received by signing free agent forward LeBron James and trading for forward Kevin Love in August 2014, prior to the season. These All-Star players, added with All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, were dubbed nationally as the 'Big Three'. With these acquisitions, this formed a new superteam of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love in the East.

Quick Facts

Acquisition method: Trade from Minnesota Timberwolves (via 3-team trade)
Key teammates formed: LeBron James and Kyrie Irving

Lore & Background

A sub-.500 team the previous four seasons, the Cavaliers won the Central division with a 53–29 record. After a slow 19–20 start, including a stretch of 2–10 in 12 games, a number of trades turned the season around, and they finished 34–9 the rest of the way. Despite losing key players to injuries, their run continued deep in the NBA Playoffs, starting with a sweep of the Boston Celtics in four games in the first round, then defeating the Chicago Bulls in six games in the Semi-finals, before sweeping the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in four games in the conference finals, making it to the NBA Finals, their second appearance since 2007. However, the Cavaliers' season ended with a 2–4 series loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, who won their fourth NBA championship, their first NBA Championship in 40 years.

Reader's Guide

Center Anderson Varejão played 26 games (his last game being on December 23, 2014) but missed the majority of the season and the playoffs due to tearing his left Achilles tendon. He underwent successful surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on December 26, 2014.