Cavaliers' Koby Altman explains lack of activity ahead of trade deadline

The Cleveland Cavaliers were oddly quiet on NBA trade deadline day, despite being very much in the thick of things near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. 

After the clock struck 3 p.m. on the east coast, Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman met with reporters and explained the team's curious lack of activity. 

"We could have made a move that was lateral, multiple moves that were lateral that I didn't think appreciably made us better," Altman said. "And I really wanted to see what this group looked like together, fully healthy."

After scouring the NBA, Altman never found a deal he deemed worthy of executing. Ultimately unwilling to sacrifice players' minutes for, at best, a minimal upgrade on the floor, Altman choose to stand pat to avoid messing with the team's budding chemistry. 

Altman is willing to ride with the team they have, saying for a squad lacking experience, going through the grind toward the postseason is part of the growing process. 

"We have to go through those experiences. We are going to have to go down the stretch here and battle for our position," Altman said. "And hopefully, knock on wood, go into a playoff series, and we can see what that feels like."

The Cavaliers were one of only three teams to stay silent on Thursday. Per Spotrac, since Jan. 23, the Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls are the only two NBA teams not to pull the trigger on a trade. 

Cleveland entered Thursday night fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 35-22 mark. They remain five games behind the East-leading Boston Celtics, who hold the best record in the NBA at 39-16. Despite the Milwaukee Bucks' (37-17) eight-game win streak, the Cavs have kept pace for second place, trailing by only 3.5 games. Meanwhile, they are a game back of the Philadelphia 76ers (34-19) for third.