It's tough being an NBA executive. Sometimes it feels like you can't do anything right, even when you have a history of making moves to improve the team's situation. That's essentially the case that Koby Altman, the President of Basketball Operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has found himself to be a part of. Altman, who has been far from shy when it comes to making moves, finds himself in need of a savior. There is no James Harden trade around the corner this time. Instead, he's hoping his savior will be the still-yet-to-be-signed LeBron James.
Altman's burned some goodwill with the fandom as of late, thanks to moves like the failed DeAndre Hunter trade and the questionable decision to trade Darius Garland for the aforementioned Harden. Couple that with a disappointing playoff run where the team's success was seen as more luck than anything else, and you can understand why some fans are upset. It feels to some like Altman is letting one of the most talent-loaded rosters in franchise history stagnate while everyone else in the NBA is getting better.
The Cavs got spanked by the New York Knicks, the reigning NBA Champions, and fans saw this offseason as a chance for the Cavs to get better and make a move to improve the team. Instead, the team lost key defenders in Dean Wade and Keon Ellis, who went to Philadelphia and Brooklyn, respectively. They also lost locker room leader and legacy forward Larry Nance Jr., who went to the Indiana Pacers.
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Sure, the Cavs landed a potential talent in guard Meleek Thomas, but that's the only positive addition the Cavs have made. The argument that Altman is wasting a great chance to improve this team after a disappointing postseason isn't an unfair criticism.
After all, if the Cavs miss out on James, then they'll be entering the 2026-2027 season with less talent than they had before the postseason ended. What's the pivot at that point? Sign Jonathan Kuminga? That may happen, but it may take a sign-and-trade, and what are you going to give up to get him? It may take someone as invaluable as Jarrett Allen, and no one should think Kuminga is worth Allen. Kuminga is, for all intents and purposes is a bust, and Allen is arguably a top-10 player at his position.
You can't make that move and see it as a positive. Sadly, that may be the only move left for Altman. With the lack of draft picks and tradeable assets, the only way you can improve this team beyond signing James is by cutting off valuable pieces of the team and hoping you can get guys back that fit better than the pieces you're giving up.
That's a big risk for a team that just made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and just extended Donovan Mitchell to a massive contract. If Altman doesn't land James, there may be a new era not far off for the Cavaliers organization.
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