During the 2002 offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded away Andre Miller in hopes of dipping down in the lottery to have a chance of drafting LeBron James or one of the other top prospects that year.

With Miller at point guard, the Cavaliers won 32 games in 99-00, 30 games in 00-01 and 29 games in 01-02. After Miller was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Darius Miles, the Cavaliers won just 17 games and had the best odds of winning the lottery.

“That season before we traded Andre Miller to the Clippers because he was up for that rookie extension for Darius Miles and some parts,” Paxson recalled. “I told ownership even though there is no guarantee (for the top pick), we need to take one more step back because this (2003) draft is going to be special (Paxson said their draft order was LeBron, Carmelo and then Bosh). Andre was good enough to keep us in the 27 to 31-win range, which would take you out of that top three to four picks. We tied with Denver (for the most lottery balls) when we won the last game of the season. Then we got lucky to get the No. 1.”