Cavaliers Secure Koby Altman’s Future: What’s Next for the Franchise?

When you look at the Cleveland Cavaliers today, it’s hard not to tip your hat to Koby Altman — the guy who quietly stitched together a 64-win juggernaut just last season. Now, with next year’s Eastern Conference crown seemingly within reach, the Cavs aren’t just dreaming; they’re gearing up to take a serious run at the title. Naturally, the front office took note of Altman’s magic touch, locking him in with a contract that stretches all the way to 2030. This isn’t just about keeping a GM on the payroll — it’s a testament to the blueprint he’s crafted since stepping up in 2017, right before LeBron made his L.A. exit. It’s been a journey of savvy draft picks, shrewd trades, and a refusal to settle for anything less than contention. Now, with fresh faces like Lonzo Ball backing up the guards and Larry Nance Jr. back in the fold, the team’s stacking pieces for a serious push — even if it means diving into luxury tax waters that previously seemed untouchable. Owner Dan Gilbert’s ready to back the bet, and honestly? It feels like the Cavaliers might just have the steam to make this season unforgettable. LEARN MORE

That has earned him a contract extension that will keep him with the Cavaliers through the summer of 2030, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. This new extension adds two years to Altman’s contract, based on reporting from the last time Altman signed an extension in 2022. Charania added that the team gave “general manager Mike Gansey and assistant general manager Brandon Weems, multiyear extensions.”Altman took over the Cavaliers in 2017, just ahead of LeBron James bolting for Los Angeles in 2018. He rebuilt this team through the draft (Darius Garland, Evan Mobley) as well as trades for players such as Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. That team won 64 games last season and has won at least 48 each of the previous three seasons.Altman’s Cavaliers are entering the luxury tax this season after years of avoiding it — the team is currently about million above the second apron. That’s not a place the franchise can stay long term, but for a year to make a title run in a down East, owner Dan Gilbert appears ready to foot the bill.
Koby Altman is the architect of a Cleveland Cavaliers team that won 64 games a year ago and will enter next season as a favorite to win the East.This season, the Cavaliers enter as favorites to win the East, but with plenty of doubters about their ability to make a deep playoff run after a second-round exit last season (Garland’s turf toe turning him into a shell of himself had a lot to do with that). The Cavaliers have added Lonzo Ball as a backup guard and brought Larry Nance Jr. home.