On Friday morning, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman spoke to the media in his annual year-end wrap up – fielding questions about questions he and his staff will throw themselves into on the other end of the weekend – including the upcoming search for the squad’s next head coach and Donovan Mitchell’s future in Cleveland.
Speaking on the heels of Thursday’s big news, the dismissal of J.B. Bickerstaff, Altman addressed the difficult decision – firing a coach who not only won 99 games over the past two seasons, reaching the Playoffs in each, but a good man and a good friend.
“I think it's undeniable the amount of success he's had with us, pushing us from a rebuild to where we are now.,” said Altman. “What makes it even more difficult is that he was an incredible partner and, personally, a friend of mine. We love him as a human being and so that makes it even more difficult.”
Bickerstaff took over a team at low tide near the end of the 2019-20 season, then doubled his win total from his first full year to his second. In his third full year, he helmed Cleveland’s first Playoff team since the LeBron era, following a 50-win regular season. The Wine and Gold returned to the postseason in 2023-24, reaching the Conference Semifinals before being eliminated in Boston late last week.
But the Cavs also struggled in the second halves of each of the past two seasons, and eventually suffered frustrating Playoff ousters. So now Altman and the brass will now search for someone who can get Cleveland to the next level.
Koby Altman End-of-Season Media Availability
“It's not something that (Bickerstaff) did specifically,” explained Altman. “I think for us, it's with this group, finding someone with a new approach, someone with a different voice, a fresh set of eyes to help us move forward. We've accomplished a lot in the last few years, getting to the Conference Semifinals (this year).
“And we don't want to be complacent, we don't want to be content with that. So, what are the levers that we can push and pull to get to that next level? We feel we're not far off. We feel we have a tremendous amount of talent in-house. We have players that believe in each other, believe in this organization, and think we’re pretty close.”
Altman also talked about NOT talking about the contract of Cleveland’s leader, Donovan Mitchell, who’s been at the center of online speculation heading into the offseason. The five-time All-Star – who averaged 35.3ppg over his last six Playoff games before being sidelined – spoke positively about his future in Cleveland after falling to Boston, and Altman sounded positive too.
“One, we can't talk to Donovan now about the contract until July,” said Altman. “I'll say that my exit interview with him was really good in that he was talking about the future and how excited he was about the team, the organization. This is a player that has had two of the best years of his career here, has had a lot of success here, understands the infrastructure. I think he has a lot of trust in what we're doing and understands that our goal is to win a Championship.”
Altman also discussed the topic of Mitchell and Darius Garland’s coexistence in the backcourt. Mitchell tasted great success running the team in Garland’s absence midseason, and Garland had a monster Playoff game against Boston sans Mitchell. But Altman pointed to the positive metrics when both guards take the floor.
“They have a great relationship, on and off the court,” said Altman. “I think the other thing that we have to realize is that this is just Year 2 of this iteration of this team and when you look at some of the most successful teams over the past decade that have had real success in the Playoffs, they've had a long run at this thing going back to Golden State that's been together for 12 years at the core.”
About the backcourt fit – or the frontcourt fit – Altman was blunt about making a change. “I don't see why we should,” he said. “And I think the same thing goes to what they say about the fit of the Evan Mobley and Jared Allen. That fit actually has a higher net rating than our guards.”
Altman and the Cavs also hope to add some new blood to the squad this season through the Draft, set for June 26-27. Cleveland has the 20th overall pick this year, their first First Rounder since tabbing Ochai Agbaji with the 14th overall pick in 2022.
The possibility of having a coach in place seemed like a stretch, but Altman didn’t rule it out altogether. Whenever it happens, Altman was determined to get this decision right.
“I think we'd love to have a coach in place for the Draft, even though I think that might be probably too aggressive a timeline,” said the team’s top basketball man. “It's about when we come up with the right decision for who's the right match for this group. And if it has to drag on a little longer, it does. This is such an important decision for us. We haven't had a search in a half decade, so we need to get back together as a group and really talk about criteria, specific questions, who we want from a cultural standpoint and create a list. And then really dive deep into those candidates and get to a finalist. But I wouldn't say it's something that we need to rush.”
More than anything, Altman expressed optimism about the direction of the franchise. The team’s core is still extremely young. Marcus Morris Sr., Georges Niang and Tristan Thompson were the only 30-year-olds on the roster at season’s send. Evan Mobley is 22. Darius Garland is 24. The Cavaliers have some holes to fill in the offseason, but Altman also stressed continuity with the young guns.
“I don't see a big major sweeping changes, I just don’t,” said Altman. “More data speaks to that this works than that it doesn't. You can't win 99 games over the regular season, make it to a Conference Semis and be like: This doesn't work. Again, this just being Year 2 of this iteration of this core being together, I have a lot of excitement for the future for this group, and belief in this group.
“The other piece that the outside doesn't see is when you meet with every player, and they have a really strong belief in the core of the group. Their fellow teammates, they think they can win here.”
With a busy offseason on the other end of the weekend for Altman and Co. – with the Draft one month away and, yes, a Summer League title to defend after that – the Cavaliers front office has a busy summer ahead, finding the right man that has the Wine and Gold still playing basketball when Memorial Day rolls around next year.
“What can we tighten up? Where's our upside? Where's the low hanging fruit in-house to elevate this thing?” posited Altman. “Like I’ve said, way more data speaks to how much more success we've had with this group than I think the outside perception of it. We've won too many games. We've had Playoff success. And we're still young.”