CLEVELAND, Ohio — Koby Altman doesn’t like the term failure.
The Cavs president of basketball operations — and architect of the Eastern Conference co-favorite — is process-oriented, able to make clear-eyed and emotionless evaluations independent of the result.
For Altman, success can typically take multiple forms.
“Let’s see how this season unfolds. I think this group is keenly aware of where we have been and where we want to go,” Altman told cleveland.com. “I’m sure you will ask the players to define success. But our goal is clear: We want to compete for a championship. I don’t want to use any strong terms. People threw that failure term out there last year and that’s such a strong term. But we always have a mind toward the playoffs. We are going to put ourselves in a position to compete for a championship. That’s what is exciting. That’s what we’re focused on. We can say that and try to back that up with our play.”
There’s plenty of merit to Altman’s viewpoint. By any measure, 2024-25 was one of the best — and most memorable — regular seasons in franchise history. In most cases, the numerous accomplishments would stand on their own, worthy of acclaim.
Evan Mobley becoming the first Cavalier to ever win Defensive Player of the Year. Three All-Stars on the same roster — Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland — for just the third time in franchise history. Kenny Atkinson named Coach of the Year. Three separate winning streaks of at least 12 games — just the second team ever to accomplish that.
Should all of that be ignored because of a horrid two-week stretch in May, with untimely injuries playing some role? Everyone will make their own decision about that.
But this season is different. Success has just one definition.
Given the roster reinforcements — Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr., Thomas Bryant — and stylistic tweaks, Cleveland could win 60-plus games, claim the East’s top seed and hang a second straight division banner.
That’s not success.
The next seven months could be a breathtaking 82-game thrill ride, filled with winning streaks and Cavalanches.
That’s not success.
The history books could be rewritten — again.
That’s not success.
Mobley, the uber-talented fifth-year forward, could enter the MVP conversation — a leap that teammates, coaches and other decision-makers are forecasting. Mitchell could make another All-Star appearance. De’Andre Hunter, last season’s trade deadline prize who will step into the starting lineup, could solidify the erratic small forward spot. Ball, healthy and motivated, could revitalize his career and supercharge an already-dynamic offense.
That’s not success either. None of it is.
The Cavs are well past the point of little victories. Been there, done that. This is the most expensive roster in NBA history — when accounting for the cap number and luxury tax. It wasn’t constructed to win a bunch of games in the regular season and get eliminated in the playoffs — not with a vulnerable Eastern Conference.
The Boston Celtics no longer pose the same threat after dismantling their roster in the aftermath of Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles. Same goes for NBA finalist Indiana, which won’t have offensive maestro Tyrese Haliburton this season.
Everyone understands the expectations. Everyone knows the stakes. The Cavs need to play into June.
“We have a lot to prove,” Atkinson admitted. “We’ve got to make that jump. We know our record the last three years in the playoffs. Just facts. How do we get better these next [few weeks] and the rest of this regular season? Are we going to make jumps individually? Are we going to make jumps as a team and then in the playoffs? We’ve got to stay healthy and get another shot at it. They know what the challenge is. If you don’t come with that chip on your shoulder, you probably shouldn’t be here. This is our challenge for this year.”
It’s also the question.
Are they tough enough — mentally and physically? Are they mature enough? Are they connected enough? Are they ready?
“We have enough talent in this room to win,” Mitchell said. “We led the East last year in wins. It’s just time. It’s about the process. At the end of the day, we fell short, but we continue to plug away and continue to take those steps. We’ve progressed each year. Just not enough. We’ve got to go out there and execute. I hate to quote the Sixers, but you gotta trust the process in a sense, and believe in the work and ultimately get there.
“And we will.”
They must. Otherwise, this season will be a failure. Sorry, Koby Altman.
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