Professional Career
In 2000, Cleaves was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the fourteenth pick. During his rookie season, he played in 78 games, averaging 5.4 points and 2.7 assists.
During his rookie year, Cleaves was ticketed for speeding and driving with a suspended license. Cleaves was cited for driving 85 mph in a 70 mph zone, and a routine check showed his license was suspended. The suspension was dropped once Cleaves paid the fines.
Cleaves was traded to the Sacramento Kings shortly before the 2001–02 season for Jon Barry and a first-round draft pick. After two seasons playing sparingly, he signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics, but was waived before 2003–04's regular season began. He played with the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games. He was then signed by the Seattle SuperSonics, was cut during 2004–05, and re-signed during the following campaign.
Following his NBA stint, Cleaves appeared for the Fayetteville Patriots and the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League, also playing abroad with Russia's Unics Kazan and Greece's Panionios BC. In 2008, he played with the Denver Nuggets in their pre-season, but was waived before the October 29 tip-off.
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