The 2002–03 NBA season was the 33rd season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. In the 2002 NBA draft, the Cavaliers selected Dajuan Wagner from the University of Memphis with the sixth pick, and selected Carlos Boozer out of Duke University with the 34th pick in the second round. During the offseason, the team acquired Darius Miles from the Los Angeles Clippers. After a 2–2 start to the season, the Cavaliers suffered a dreadful 15-game losing streak between November and December. They would continue to struggle as head coach John Lucas was replaced with Keith Smart after an 8–34 start. At midseason, Tyrone Hill was released to free agency and re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, while Bimbo Coles was also released and signed with the Boston Celtics. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 17–65 record, last place in the Eastern Conference and tied for the worst record in the NBA along with the Denver Nuggets. It was also the team's worst record since the 1981–82 season.