Altman: Cavs built for 'sustainable run' despite missing on LeBron - ESPN

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Koby Altman would have loved for LeBron James to return for a third stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When the most popular player in franchise history decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavaliers' president of basketball operations wasn't fazed.

«We can't be reliant on one outcome. I think we have too much of a good thing going in terms of our infrastructure, our foundation to worry about one outcome,» Altman said at a news conference Friday before the Cavaliers begin training camp next week. «I'm not downplaying the enormity and magnitude of the decision. I just think the way we're built as an organization is we have a great foundation and a great sort of ecosystem in terms of talent, coaching staff, our performance staff and we're built for a sustainable run here regardless of one outcome.»

James' agent, Rich Paul, said on his podcast in July that the Cavaliers were the only team to meet with James, while the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors were the other finalists.

Altman has been able to build a contending roster since James' second departure in 2018 after he led the Cavs to four straight trips to the NBA Finals and the franchise's first championship in 2016.

Cleveland has won at least 50 games the past two years and reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time since 2018. The team was swept in four games by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.

The Cavs quickly pivoted after James' decision and addressed their need for a wing player, acquiring Peyton Watson in a five-team trade and signing him to a four-year, $88 million contract. On the first day of free agency, Donovan Mitchell signed a