Cavaliers President Koby Altman believes his team will face higher expectations next season after finishing as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. This comes after a steady improvement over the past four seasons, during which they rebuilt their roster following four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018 and an NBA title in 2016.
Focus on Toughness
Altman wants his team to be mentally and physically tougher when training camp begins in late September. He stated, "I want to make sure my team is mentally and physically tougher." The Cavaliers finished last season with a 64-win record, an increase of 16 wins from their previous campaign under coach Kenny Atkinson.
Core Group and Historical Achievements
Their core group includes:
- Donovan Mitchell
- Evan Mobley
- Darius Garland
- Jarrett Allen
These players have been together for three seasons now. This year, they became just one win shy of tying Boston’s total number of victories since Kevin Durant left town. They also made history by becoming only the third team since Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls in March 1993 to finish atop the Eastern standings without any player averaging double figures per game throughout the entire regular-season schedule.
Evan Mobley earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and reached All-Star status alongside teammate Darius Garland this past season. Despite these positives, falling short still hurts greatly for Altman. He acknowledged, "Ultimately falling short still hurts greatly," especially considering how close they seemed to getting down the stretch until the final buzzer sounded, signaling another endgame loss.
Looking Ahead
The Cavaliers have had success rebuilding their roster but still face challenges ahead as they aim for further improvement next season. Their recent success has led many fans to believe that this could be their year for a championship run. However, while they finished with a strong record last season, they ultimately fell short of making it back-to-back championships.
Despite this setback, the team is looking forward to building on their momentum and making another deep playoff run next year. With a talented young core and an experienced coaching staff, the Cavs are poised for continued success in what promises to be an exciting new chapter in franchise history.
Offseason Developments
This summer has been filled with optimism around Cleveland’s basketball operation. Altman believes his club will enter next fall facing higher expectations than ever before. This is not surprising given how much progress Cleveland has made over the last four years.
After going through four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals between 2015-2018—capped off by winning it all—followed by two straight sub-.500 campaigns, the Cavs were able to rebuild quickly thanks largely to smart front office moves made by general manager Justin Zanik and his team. They’ve managed to keep intact most key pieces from those championship days, including:
- Donovan Mitchell (who was traded away midseason)
- Evan Mobley (a first-year All-Star)
- Jarrett Allen (who earned All-NBA Third Team honors)
Darius Garland also returned home after being drafted No. 1 overall out of UNC. He has become one half of arguably the best starting guard duo outside Golden State, alongside All-Star point guard Collin Sexton, who was lost via free agency last year.
Challenges Ahead
Despite some nice additions via free agency, such as former Knicks center Nerlens Noel and veteran shooting guard Danny Green, the offseason hasn’t gone smoothly. The Cavaliers also brought aboard highly touted rookie prospect Moussa Diabate, who many expect big things from right away, despite entering the league through the G-League affiliate Memphis Hustle.
Unfortunately, the team faced a significant loss with head coach Kenny Atkinson deciding not to return after spending two years leading the squad through tumultuous times, including the aforementioned sub-.500 campaigns and trade drama involving Sexton.
In summary, while the Cavaliers have made strides, they must navigate these challenges as they prepare for the upcoming season.
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