Cavs Notes: Koby Altman, Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, predictions

For Koby Altman, the word “success” doesn’t mean what it used to. The Cavaliers’ president of basketball operations told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com that while he’s proud of last season’s 64-win ride, the bar has officially been raised.

“We want to compete for a championship,” Altman told Fedor. “That’s what excites us. That’s what we’re focused on. The goal is to back that up with our play.”

And that’s the point — the Cavs are well past the feel-good era, Fedor noted.

Lord knows, they’re already built the résumé. Evan Mobley won Defensive Player of the Year, the Cavs had three All-Stars, and Kenny Atkinson won Coach of the Year. So now, regular-season accomplishments don’t count as success.

With Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr., and Thomas Bryant added to the mix, Cleveland’s roster might be the most expensive in league history when factoring in luxury tax penalties.

But as Atkinson said, that spending comes with expectations.

“We’ve got a lot to prove,” he said. “We’ve got to make that jump. The playoffs — that’s where it happens.”

Five Bold Predictions

Ethan Sands of Cleveland.com laid out five bold predictions for the Cavs, and they capture what this season might look like if it all clicks.

Here is a summary of each of Sands’ takeaways (for the record, I’m on board with all):

1. Evan Mobley enters the MVP race. Already a DPOY and All-Star, Mobley’s offensive assertiveness is the missing piece. The Cavs want him creating, facilitating, and finishing — not just protecting the rim. His next step is taking control of possessions and becoming the steady engine of a title team.

2. De’Andre Hunter keeps the starting small forward job. Hunter’s size and composure make him too valuable to take out of the lineup. His defensive range and midrange touch give Cleveland the balance it’s been missing on the wing.

3. Lonzo Ball plays 50 games and matters in April. The Cavs traded for Ball knowing the risk, but also the reward. If he’s healthy in the postseason, Cleveland’s offense opens up in ways it hasn’t since LeBron left.

4. Jaylon Tyson and Dean Wade define the depth. Tyson’s defensive energy and Wade’s confidence from deep will decide how long the Cavs can stay elite when injuries hit. Wade’s green light is no longer optional. It’s a requirement.

5. Cleveland wins 58 games and reaches the NBA Finals. The path won’t be easy, but the Cavs have the depth, defense, and chemistry to get there. The East is wide open, and Cleveland looks built to take advantage.

More Cavs

We have our own take on how far the Cavaliers can go in our annual post of NBA season predictions. Also, of course, there are a few Cavs on the list of the NBA’s top 50 players. You can check that out here.