Uncertain Future Ahead: Breaking Down Cleveland Cavs and Koby Altman's Next Steps

Uncertain Future Ahead: Breaking Down Cleveland Cavs and Koby Altman's Next Steps

By Michael Harrison

March 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the 2020-21 season with a disappointing 22-50 record, missing the play-in tournament by 11 games. As the organization maintains unusual silence following the season's end, questions arise about GM Koby Altman's future and the direction of the franchise.

Altman's Draft Success:

  • Collin Sexton (2018, #8 overall) - Shown consistent improvement
  • Darius Garland (2019, #5 overall) - Strong sophomore season
  • Isaac Okoro (2020, #5 overall) - Finished season strong
  • Acquired Jarrett Allen via trade

Notable Challenges:

  • Traded Jordan Clarkson, who became Sixth Man of the Year
  • Dylan Windler's injury struggles
  • Kevin Porter Jr. situation ending in trade for minimal return
  • Andre Drummond buyout after 16-game benching
  • Kevin Love's limited availability (25 games) and on-court incident
  • Three head coaches since LeBron James' departure
  • Coaching instability with John Beilein's early exit and Larry Drew's reluctance

Organizational Assessment:

  • Rebuilding post-LeBron has proven difficult
  • Owner Dan Gilbert known for demanding quick results
  • Team needs to improve ticket sales with COVID-19 restrictions lifting
  • No clear organizational direction communicated
  • Management's silence after season raises concerns

The Future:

  • Decision needed on Altman's position as GM
  • Must balance development with competitive expectations
  • Need to address roster construction issues
  • Focus required on attracting fans back to games
  • Clear organizational strategy needed moving forward

While Altman has shown ability in draft selections, the team's overall progress and off-court issues present significant challenges that need addressing for the franchise to move forward successfully.

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