Koby Altman: Cavs couldn’t let LeBron James decision define their offseason

Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman addressed the team's offseason following LeBron James' decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Cleveland pursued the free agent, with Altman, general manager Brandon Weems, and vice president Grant Gilbert meeting James at his Ohio home. After James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia, the Cavaliers quickly pivoted to other roster moves.

Following the missed pursuit of James, Cleveland acquired Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets via a sign-and-trade, drafted Meleek Thomas, signed Mario Hezonja, and extended Donovan Mitchell. Altman noted that while the Cavaliers also explored potential trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown, the franchise prioritized preserving its core foundation rather than surrendering key assets.