Cleveland Cavaliers GM Koby Altman elects to stand pat on NBA trade deadline day
Cleveland Cavs general manager Koby Altman apparently decided his team is good enough – for now.
It might be more accurate to say Altman, who’s known for his aggressive moves (Donovan Mitchell anyone?) wants to see what exactly he has on a youthful roster filled with talent.
While some Cavs fans may decry the lack of any trades on one of the NBA’s biggest days in the regular season, Altman may eventually be proven prescient.
Rly @cavs no trades whatsoever y’all couldn’t have gotten Royce o Neal ?
— Jason (@Jason89864564) February 9, 2023
I think the Cavs are waiting for the buyout market. Just my opinion
— L.A. Broadus 🎙 (@LA_Broadus) February 9, 2023
The team, after all, traded for Mitchell just prior to the start of the season, which started in mid-October, and the expectation that the team has completely adapted to his presence is premature. They are not a complete team.
Some fans recognize that.
So very relieved to wake up this morning and see that the @cavs did nothing this #NBATradeDeadline
This team’s chemistry and belief in each other is something special. They’re building something amazing. Trading for trading’s sake would only disrupt that. #LetEmKnow— Ezzarelli - INFJ, left of centre, bit sweary (@ezzarelli) February 9, 2023
It can’t be argued that the Cavs players still have only just begun to figure out their roles and are getting used to them. Mitchell and his electric backcourt mate Darius Garland certainly know theirs combining for 48.8 points per game.
Center Jarrett Allen has been Jarett Allen, averaging a near double-double with 14.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. The wild card is Evan Mobley, who is averaging 17.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in his last five games. Since a 38-point effort against the Milwaukee Bucks seemingly found his comfort zone in the offense.
And defense is certainly a team strength as the team ranks fourth in the league currently.
Questions remain about the Cavs' starting lineup, depth chart
The piece left to figure out in the starting five? Small forward – the position many say the Cavs need to bolster. Yet Altman elected to hold on to the two players many viewed to be likely trade chips – Caris LeVert and Kevin Love.
Given the way the landscape of the NBA’s Eastern Conference was altered with the Brooklyn Nets dealing away guard Kyrie Irving and forward Kevin Durant for a boatload of draft picks, Altman’s maneuvers or lack thereof may be worth a gamble.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs make no moves on NBA trade deadline day
