Editing Nate Thurmond (section)

=== Cleveland Cavaliers ===
Thirteen games into the [[1975–76 NBA season|1975–76 season]], Thurmond was traded along with [[Rowland Garrett]] to the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] for [[Steve Patterson (basketball)|Steve Patterson]] and [[Eric Fernsten]] on November 27, 1975. Thurmond's mobility on the court failed to mesh with an offense built for a more stationary center, resulting in diminished playing time on a team enduring a nine-game losing streak at the time of the deal.<ref>[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1975/11/28/page/67/article/pick-up-marin-from-braves Logan, Bob. "Nate goes to Cavs, Bulls get Patterson; Pick up Marin from Braves", ''Chicago Tribune'', November 28, 1975].{{dead link|date=May 2024}}</ref> In Cleveland, the now 35-year-old Thurmond came off the bench for the injured [[Jim Chones]] to lead Cleveland's "[[Miracle at Richfield]]" team to the [[NBA Eastern Conference finals]] before the Cavaliers lost to the [[Boston Celtics]] in 1976.<ref name=livingston/>

A role player reduced to limited minutes and mid-single digit scoring and rebounds, Thurmond retired at the end of the 1976–77 season.