Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman has agreed to a long-term contract extension, league sources tell ESPN.
Owner Dan Gilbert tasked Altman with reshaping the roster and organization post-LeBron James, which has included the drafting of a promising backcourt — Collin Sexton and Darius Garland — and the hiring of well-regarded University of Michigan coach John Beilein.
Altman, 37, is the first GM of the Dan Gilbert ownership era to receive an extension. Gilbert bought the Cavaliers in 2005.
Altman was promoted to replace David Griffin in 2017, originally signing a three-year deal to run basketball operations.
The Cavaliers reached the NBA Finals in Altman’s first season on the job.
Under Altman, Cleveland has placed a high priority on player development — a key factor in the hiring of Beilein. Altman has been pursuing an environment reshaped around an influx of young players immersed in fundamentals. Along those lines, Altman has been assembling young assets and draft picks, acquiring four first-round and nine second-round picks since his promotion in 2017.
Altman was responsible for drafting three players in the first round of the 2019 draft, including Garland and forwards Dylan Windler and Kevin Porter Jr. Altman selected Sexton in the 2018 draft; he was voted a second-team All-NBA rookie.
The Cavaliers signed three players to extensions, including five-time All-Star Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. and Cedi Osman. The team is 2-2 to start the season, including back-to-back home victories over Chicago and Indiana.
Source : ESPN
