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Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert basically just hired Koby Altman to be new GM

By Nick Dudukovich

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: A general view during the first half in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: A general view during the first half in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers and owner Dan Gilbert basically promoted assistant GM Koby Altman to general manager after some breaking news July 18.

Cleveland, your general manager search is over, and Koby Altman has the job.

No, it’s not official. But it’s only a matter of time, isn’t it?

The Cavs took the headlines on the evening of July 18 when it was revealed that Altman was close to getting Paul George from the Pacers until the Indiana Pacers backed out.

I wonder who leaked that?

It makes the Cavs look good because the perception is that Altman was in control and Indy copped out.

Then, the Cavs official Twitter account tweeted out a photo of Altman with Cedi Osman, the former second-round draft pick, who just signed his contract. Altman is front and center with Osman in the picture.

Why is this notable?

Remember when Jose Calderon was officially announced?

Twitter had a field day, declaring that Calderon was pictured with the Cavaliers GM (He was standing next to nobody).

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Altman’s promotion won’t come as a huge surprise and will fall in line with what Gilbert usually does when he needs to fill the GM’s role.

When Gilbert first bought the team, he had Danny Ferry, who was then working for the Spurs, ready to take over for Jim Paxson. When Ferry’s contract ran out, he stayed in house, giving the job to Chris Grant. And when Grant departed, the job landed in David Griffin’s lap. The same could be said for Altman.

Being the top basketball boss may be a new gig to Altman, but he’s no stranger to the front office. He joined the Cavaliers in 2012, as the pro personnel manager. He was promoted to director of pro personnel a year later, and got his promotion to assistant GM in 2016.

Prior to joining the Cavaliers, he cut his teeth for two years at Columbia  University, and worked as a team manager for the U-17 national team before that.

He played his college ball at Middlebury College, according to Cavs.com, where he played three seasons at point guard. From there, he coached at Amherst College while he earned his Masters in Sports Management at UMASS. He spent the 2009-2010 season as graduate assistant at Southern Illinois.

Altman has an impressive resume and was probably going to be an NBA GM sooner than later.

Next: 5 Reasons LeBron Will Stay With The Cavaliers

Judging by the way the Cavs have communicated lately, to answer to that question appears to be the former. Turn back to the Factory of Sadness when the Cavs decide to make it official.

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