LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers over a third stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency this year, but Cavs president Koby Altman isn’t sweating it one bit. He spoke with reporters Friday and fired off a confident message: the Cavs are still a final four team, and other teams are just trying to catch up.
Altman’s Bold Claim: “Teams Got Better to Chase Us”
Altman is convinced the Cavs’ talent and process are strong enough, even without James. He said he’d be more worried if he was concerned about the day-to-day things, but that’s not the case. “I think a lot of teams got better to chase us,” Altman declared. He stressed that when you’re a final four team, others have to improve to reach that level, and Cleveland is there. They just want “more.” Last season, the 52-win Cavaliers did finish as a top-four team and powered through two brutal seven-game playoff series wins against the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors and No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. That’s a serious run, especially when you remember they hadn’t gotten that far without James on the roster since 1992.
Swept Away and Still Confident?
Here’s where it gets interesting, though. The eventual NBA champion New York Knicks absolutely swept the Cavaliers 4-0 in the East Finals, outscoring them by a staggering 77 points. Coach Kenny Atkinson even claimed they were “analytically” winning the series 2-1 after Game 3, but the scoreboard doesn’t lie. Despite that brutal exit, Altman is sticking to his guns. He sees their offseason as a “really good offseason in spite of that one decision” by LeBron. The team secured Donovan Mitchell with a four-year extension and James Harden with a three-year extension. They traded for Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets, and big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are back in the fold. Altman believes they’ve gained financial flexibility and roster sustainability. “We can’t be reliant on one outcome,” he stated, emphasizing the organization’s strong foundation, talent ecosystem, and coaching staff.
The Cavaliers clearly believe they’re built for a “sustainable run” no matter who signs where. We’ll see how real that confidence is right away. Cleveland kicks off their season by visiting James and the 76ers in Philadelphia on October 22. It’s an instant test, and the league will be watching to see if Altman’s swagger is justified.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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