Revamp architect

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BOBBY MOTUS
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February 15, 2018
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THE 2017-2018 NBA season began with the Cleveland Cavaliers parading a lineup heavy with the league’s better known stars and the Eastern Conference crown already conceded to them. But as the games wore on, dysfunction on and off the court spoiled the brew. They were decaying faster than trash in a compost pit.

Enter the trading deadline and the Cavs’ young general manager Koby Altman had to do something. Troubling times need drastic measures.  He and his staff quietly evaluated teams and looked for available players. They found willing trade partners and did a major overhaul.

“We wanted to be patient and wanted to see this thing work out. We were excited about what we had at the beginning of the season on paper but we were really worried that what was going on the floor and our culture in the building, we were marching a slow death. We didn’t want to be a part of that,” Altman said.

First was the deal with the LA Lakers. Altman was aware that the franchise was planning a salary dump in preparation for two max players next season. They negotiated for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. in exchange for Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye. He was looking for more. Rodney Hood was available and Altman talked with Utah and dealt Derrick Rose and Jae Crowder. He found a third team and negotiated with Sacramento and then completed the deal for George Hill in lieu of Iman Shumpert. Utah also sent Joe Johnson to the Kings.

Dwyane Wade, now back in Miami, opened up minutes to Cleveland’s four new additions and as if to prove that Altman’s trade moves were for the better, the new guys combined for 49 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in their blowout win over Boston a few days ago.

The 35-year-old Brooklyn-born Altman is basketball savvy as he played three years in a Division 3 college as a starting point guard. After graduation, he was involved in real estate for three years, then went on to the University of Massachusetts Amherst and earned his master’s degree in sports management.

He was an assistant for two years to David Hixon at Amherst College basketball and during that time met Sean Ford, also a graduate of UMass Sports Management program. Ford was the national team director of USA men’s basketball and made Altman as equipment manager of the 2009 USA U-19 World Championship team. His job description includes washing the laundry of two future NBA All-Stars, Gordon Hayward and Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry’s younger brother Seth.

He joined the Cleveland front office in 2012, rose from the ranks and was promoted to GM in July of last year. He’s the second youngest GM in the league behind Jon Horst of Milwaukee and younger than Cavs’ current players Kyle Corver and Jose Calderon. He’s one of only four among the 30 NBA GMs who are black in a league where almost 80 percent are black. His first test as a GM was to handle the Kyrie Irving situation when the star guard wanted a change of scenery. And now this blockbuster move.

The Cavs got two solid young role players in Hood, Clarkson and Nance Jr.   Hill, in his prime at 28, starts at the point and takes the load off LeBron James, and thus affords Cleveland’s very important player some rest. Kevin Love is still out with a hand injury and the high-energy Nance should fill the void. They had gotten back on track to a fourth consecutive Finals meeting with Golden State Warriors.

The new-look and noticeably younger Cleveland should crawl back from the grave. Boston somehow lost its rhythm and Milwaukee is making strides since showing Jason Kidd the exit. Toronto is quietly waiting at the wings for any of the other three teams to stumble. In effect, these are the Eastern Conference’s top four teams.

Team owners usually have the final say but Dan Gilbert gave his full trust on Altman’s trade decisions. Reportedly, LeBron was briefed on the matter and was said to be supportive of the overhaul. Management is hoping that with a retooled support crew, Bron will decide to stay and play for a few more years in Cleveland.

As a Laker fan, I hated to see Clarkson and Nance go but happy to note that their services were needed and appreciated in The Land./PN
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