The Cavaliers began play in the 1970-1971 season as one of three expansion teams in the NBA (along with the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] and the Buffalo Braves - now known as the [[Los Angeles Clippers]]), playing their games at the Cleveland Arena. Under owner Nick Mileti and GM/head coach Bill Fitch, the Cavs lost their first 15 games in team history, and struggled through their first few seasons.
By 1974, the Cleveland Arena had fallen into disrepair, prompting the Cavaliers to move to the new Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio (roughly halfway between Cleveland and Akron). The location was picked in part in an effort to draw fans from a wider radius of Northeast Ohio. The team had their first winning season in 1975-76, winning the Central Division title, and being known in Cleveland sports lore as the "Miracle of Richfield". The "Miracle" team had advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, but after starting center Ji Jim Chones broke his ankle in practice, the team would lose in the conference finals to the Boston Celtics 4 games to 2. After two more playoff seasons, the team would go into a playoff drought.
In 1980, businessman Ted Stepien purchased the team, and in his three years of ownership, the team would suffer from what was viewed as Stepien's questionable trades (especially regarding draft picks - leading the NBA to institute what was known as the "Stepien Rule" - in which a team could not trade their first round pick in consecutive years), as well as numerous head coaching changes and persistent rumors of the team moving to a new city.