Cavs’ Koby Altman: We’re Excited to Live in Space of Finals Expectations

Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman said the goal for the Cavaliers this season is clear. Basically, it’s NBA Finals or bust.

On the bright side, Altman seems to believe the Cavs can do exactly that after finishing last season 64-18 and with the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Then came another second-round exit, this time at the hands of the eventual East champion Indiana Pacers.

As of this moment, Cleveland will be running it mostly back, with Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. being the two most notable additions. In the process, the Cavs lost Isaac Okoro (Chicago) and Ty Jerome (Memphis).

“It’s tough the way we ended,” Atlman said during a Summer League interview with Channing Frye and Jared Greenberg on NBA TV at the start of July. “Lotta of expectations this year. … For four straight years we had expectations of the Finals. That’s a different space to live in. We’re excited to live in that space now.”

Altman, 42, joined the Cavaliers’ front office in 2012. He became head of basketball operations in 2017 and is the longest-tenured top basketball executive under team owner Dan Gilbert. Altman is already the second-longest-tenured top exec in franchise history, trailing only Wayne Embry (13 years).

He has seen it all in from forgettable entire seasons to championship aspirations with LeBron James. Now, those expectations are back with the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and the rest.

“The hardest part was getting that talent back to Cleveland after LeBron left the second time,” Altman said. “We had to rebuild it from the ground up….. We drafted great. (We made some) timely trades with Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell. I think this year it’s (about) internal growth.

“Evan Mobley is still just 24 years old and still growing. So, his internal growth. Darius is 25. We’re still young. So now we’re living in that space of, ‘Let’s try to get to the NBA Finals.’ So around the edges is what we’re looking at.”

The Cavs still have to fill a roster spot via a standard contract. They will fill other spots for their training camp roster. There is work to be done, but there isn’t any big rush to do anything splashy. The trade deadline isn’t until February. That is when Altman has historically done some of his best work.

For now, though, the Cavs believe they have the core and the potential to make those championship dreams a reality. That said, they’re incredibly limited under the salary cap, thanks to the NBA’s new labor rules. Altman and his front office team know that better than anyone.

“What we have to do is have talent that grows from within,” Altman said. “Now the young guys have to step up and fill some of the void, because the second apron puts you in such a tough position.”

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