Cavs: 3 players Koby Altman let get away that forced the long rebuild

By Chad Porto | Jun 3, 2021

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 07: Derrick Rose #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on November 7, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 124-119. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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Koby Altman gave up a few players who would’ve made the Cavs much better.

It’s not that Koby Altman blew up the Cavs roster from the 2018 NBA Finals, or that he couldn’t retain LeBron James. It’s not that Altman gave Kevin Love $100 million or traded away Kevin Porter Jr. No, Altman’s sins as a general manager are deep and complicated.

Altman gave up several key pieces that would’ve helped the team, and gave them up for next to nothing. That is part of the problem with Altman’s tenure. The lack of return on investment that Cleveland is dealing with. There are more players that didn’t make the list, like Kyle Korver and JaVale McGee but most of this list is focused on guys who could’ve helped the Cavs in the subsequent years and got nothing back for them.

Honorable Mention: Derrick Rose

The Cavs traded away Derrick Rose, Iman Shumpert, Jae Crowder, and a 2020 MIA second-round pick swap for George Hill and Rodney Hood. While neither Hill nor Hood were bad acquisitions by any means, looking at how well the New York Knicks did with Rose on their roster, it’s hard to argue that he wouldn’t have had a major impact on the Cavs.

Rose averaged 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the Knicks playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, and had averaged 18 points with the Timberwolves and Pistons in back-to-back seasons. He easily could’ve been a huge contributor on a Post-LeBron James Cavs team.

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