Rumors

Appearing alongside James' agent Rich Paul on the Game Over podcast, ESPN insider Shams Charania revealed that Cavaliers executives and members of the Gilbert family met with the four-time NBA champion in Akron in early July. "Now you tell me, Rich, if I'm right or wrong," Charania said. "Was it the Cavaliers' front office group – Koby Altman, Brandon Weems, the Gilbert family and Grant Gilbert – meeting with LeBron in Akron in early July? Is that the loaf of bread you're talking about?" Paul appeared stunned that Charania knew about the meeting. "Early July? Wait a minute. How did you know about that?" Paul responded.

BasketNews

"Let's get to one guy that played with the Cavs this past season, that is James Harden. He opted out of his deal with Cleveland. What can you tell us about his future with the Cavs?" Shams Charania: "James Harden will be going back to the Cavaliers just depending on how this shakes out with LeBron James and other upgrades the Cavs are able to make. He will be back, my understanding is on a multi-year deal. Whether that is a two-year deal, a three-year deal, a lot of that shakes out after the Cavs' offseason moves. But I am told James Harden, his reps are on the same page with the Cavs. They want to give the organization as much flexibility as possible to see what upgrades they can make, because they know there needs to be some level of upgrade on the roster, especially on the wings. So whether it is LeBron James, a guy like Jonathan Kuminga, this is a Cavs group led by Koby Altman, president of basketball operations, that is being aggressive here in the market, and that starts with LeBron James."

YouTube

Shams Charania: Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and president of basketball operations Koby Altman spoke with Mitchell and Brown once the seven-time NBA All-Star was able to land a new extension, and reached terms quickly. All parties have been in lockstep on the future direction. Mitchell has played a significant part in the Cavaliers’ conversations to improve the roster, and supportive of the front office, and that has continued this summer.

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"[Donovan] Mitchell, [James] Harden, [Evan] Mobley, [Jarrett] Allen. Dan and Grant -- which is the Gilberts. Plus Koby [Altman], he was there when LeBron won there," Paul said. "Big, big, big X factor, let me talk to you about Brandon Weems," who is the Cavs' assistant GM under the president of basketball operations, Altman, and was a childhood friend and James' high school teammate. "Brandon Weems is basically LeBron's brother," Paul said. "Now, he worked his own way [up], nobody gave him anything. He's earned to be in the front office of the Cavs. "But that is a big feather in the cap [for Cleveland], because of Brandon Weems." Paul added that the Cavs would have been even more appealing had the roster still featured fellow Klutch client Darius Garland, who was traded to the LA Clippers for Harden last season. "This is no offense to Harden," Paul said. "Because he loves Garland like he loves Maxey."

ESPN

Eligible for a contract extension on July 7, Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell is highly coveted by the organization. With one year and a player option left on his current deal, Cavs president Koby Altman was asked about his status and a potential agreement, whether this summer or next offseason. “Donovan has been steadfast in how much he loves it here, and so there hasn't been any question of will he be here and does he want to be here,” Altman said. “So I think that's the biggest thing, right? That's the best thing, when we have a superstar of his caliber that wants to be in Cleveland, that's our best ambassador, that's our best recruiter. “There's guys that are here that wouldn't be here without him, quite frankly. So I think the bigger question is the one that's been answered is does he want to be here, and does he want to be here long term? And I think he's answered that.”

Clutch Points

There has long been chatter about the Thunder having interest in Cleveland big man Evan Mobley as well, but Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman insisted in an end-of-season news conference that Mobley wasn’t going anywhere.

New York Times

Point-blank, Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman was prompted to answer whether or not Evan Mobley will be on the roster before next season begins. He hesitated, taken aback by the question, then pressed by a reporter on the rumors surrounding the Cavs and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. “I mean, he's part of our future,” Altman said on Friday in his end-of-season press conference. “We're not going to speculate on any players outside these walls. All I can tell you is, since Evan's been here, we've had the third-best record in the league. Now, we don't have a championship to show for that yet, right? “Boston and Denver, the other two ahead of us, they have a championship to show for that. But all Evan has done is impacted winning. He's been remarkable for us in terms of our ascent the last five years. He's a huge part of what we do. He knows he needs to get better.”

Clutch Points

Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell will be eligible to sign a contract extension on July 7. Asked whether the Cavs will offer an extension to Mitchell this summer, Koby Altman said, "There hasn't been any question on if he wants to be here or if he will be here." When asked why he considers Mitchell an elite No. 1 player, Altman said, "Donovan is uniquely ours and he's our guy. When you are constantly an All-NBA guy ... you embrace that." "Do we think we can win a championship with him as our best player? Yes," he said.

Akron Beacon Journal

Speaking on whether Evan Mobley will be with the Cavs next season, Altman said, "Yeah, he's part of our future." With regard to speculation that the Cavs could package Mobley in a trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Altman said he's "not going to speculate on any players outside of these walls. Since Evan's been here, we have the third-best record in the league."

Akron Beacon Journal

Altman said that Cavs second-year player Jaylon Tyson "is going to be a big part of what we do, especially on (a rookie scale contract)." Altman said the team needs his tenacity, and that his ability to break into the rotation during his just second year in the pros speaks to his work ethic.

Akron Beacon Journal

Danny Cunningham: Donovan Mitchell on if he wants LeBron James to return: "That is not for me. I am not trying to get a headline. That's a Koby Altman question, that's a Mike Gansey question."

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The remaining goals for Altman, who is on his third extension since becoming GM and signed a multiyear deal after last season, sources told ESPN, is to build sustainable success and win championships -- without relying on or planning for a third stint with James to make that happen. "I've grown very fond of this organization because I've seen the steps toward winning both on and off the court and then it just feels peaceful," Mitchell told ESPN. "It feels connected even through stressful times, even through last year's loss [to Indiana]. Like, it was tough, but coming into this year it was like, 'All right. Let's do it.' "When you're all on one accord in that regard, it's definitely easy. ... Or easier."

ESPN

What followed were three painful seasons, going 60-159, before the climb began. Altman, whose first year as general manager coincided with James' last with the franchise, used the time to cement his philosophy for team-building, sources told ESPN. The Cavs would win again through player development, and through the collective spirit of finding players who looked at Cleveland as a preferred destination. It took some time to settle in. Since Altman took over for his mentor, former Cavs GM David Griffin, Cleveland has cycled through the 10th-most rostered players of any team, according to ESPN Research. "I think early on we were searching," a Cavs team source told ESPN.

ESPN

NBA Communications: The voting panel for the 2025-26 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award consisted of basketball executives from NBA teams. Complete voting results ⬇️

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