How Bad are NBA GMs? Ep. 6 - Cleveland Cavaliers
In this series I will be breaking down every impactful transaction in the NBA to better understand the performance of the average NBA GM. Since the vast majority of decisions made by GMs cannot be proven to be good or bad immediately, we will start in the year 2018. Weight = how impactful the action is/was for the franchise. Rating = quantifying the decision in hindsight from 1-10, 10 being excellent and 1 being terrible.
GM - Koby Altman (2017-present)
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| Credit: Erik Drost |
The Cavs were 25-12 at the start of 2018. They had LeBron, and were coming off 3 straight Finals appearances. However, rumors were swirling about LeBron's offseason plans and Cleveland, having been burnt once before, was preparing for the worst.
Feb 8 2018 Jordan Clarkson, PG Traded to Cleveland (CLE) from Los Angeles (LAL) with Larry Nance Jr. for Isaiah Thomas , Channing Frye and 2018 1st round pick
From the Lakers standpoint this move was purely to free up cap space to go after LeBron or Paul George. Somehow they managed to acquire a same-year 1st rounder at the same time. The Cavs, meanwhile, received two truly above-average starters in Nance and Clarkson while also ridding themselves of the failed Isaiah Thomas experiment. This seems like a fairly even trade in hindsight...even a win-win.
Then again...there's an argument to be made that in this deal the Cavs actually helped the Lakers lure LeBron away in free agency.
Weight: 90% Rating: 7/10
Feb 8 2018 Derrick Rose, PG Traded to Utah (UTH) from Cleveland (CLE) as part of a 3-team trade: Cleveland (CLE) traded Iman Shumpert , 2020 2nd round pick, Dimitrios Agravanis and $2.1 million to Sacramento (SAC); Cleveland (CLE) traded Jae Crowder and 2024 2nd round pick to Utah (UTH); Sacramento (SAC) traded Arturas Gudaitis and George Hill to Cleveland (CLE); Utah (UTH) traded Rodney Hood and 2024 2nd round pick to Cleveland (CLE); Utah (UTH) traded $1.1 million and Joe Johnson to Sacramento (SAC)
Looks complex, but basically Cleveland gave up Jae Crowder, a 2nd rounder and some cash for George Hill. Rose was hurt and basically useless at this point. George Hill was already 31, but he would play well for Cleveland.
Weight: 70% Rating: 6/10
Feb 8 2018 Dwyane Wade, SG Traded to Miami (MIA) from Cleveland (CLE) for 2024 2nd round pick
Wade was not good at this point, and after trading for Clarkson the Cavs simply didn't have a role for him.
Weight: 20% Rating: 7/10
Jun 21 2018 Collin Sexton, PG Drafted by Cleveland (CLE): Round 1 (#8 overall)
Sexton has shown great improvement every year, but he still has a long way to go if he wants to live up to that top-10 pick status. Mikal Bridges, Michael Porter Jr, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were available.
Weight: 90% Rating: 4/10
Jul 24 2018 Kevin Love, PF Signed a 4 year $120.4 million contract extension with Cleveland (CLE)
Love was already past his prime and by his standards did not have a very good season (in '17-'18). It's currently 2021 and I don't think anyone in Cleveland is thrilled about paying him $31m..
Weight: 100% Rating: 2/10
Oct 15 2018 Larry Nance Jr., PF Signed a 4 year $44.8 million rookie contract extension with Cleveland (CLE)
Front-loaded, $11m/year for a mid-level starter. It's not a steal, but it's certainly not terrible.
Weight: 70% Rating: 6/10
Nov 29 2018 Alec Burks, SG Traded to Cleveland (CLE) from Utah (UTH) with 2020 2nd round pick and 2021 2nd round pick for Kyle Korver
Both players would be disappointing. We've gotta give Cleveland the 'W' for the two picks.
Weight: 70% Rating: 8/10
Dec 7 2018 Sam Dekker, SF Traded to Washington (WAS) from Cleveland (CLE) as part of a 3-team trade: Cleveland (CLE) traded George Hill to Milwaukee (MIL); Milwaukee (MIL) traded Matthew Dellavedova , John Henson , 2021 1st round pick, 2021 2nd round pick and 2021 2nd round pick to Cleveland (CLE); Washington (WAS) traded 2022 2nd round pick to Cleveland (CLE); Washington (WAS) traded cash considerations, 2021 2nd round pick, 2022 2nd round pick and Jason Smith to Milwaukee (MIL)
It really seems like someone forgot to carry-the-one here. Cleveland fleeced MIL and WAS here for 4 picks including a 2021 1st rounder. In return they (not in contention) gave up an old but solid George Hill.
Weight: 90% Rating: 10/10
Conclusions:
In a very awkward year for Altman and the Cavs, things could have been worse. Yes, they lost LeBron (again) and decided to pay Kevin Love $30m/year for the next 4 years. But! They acquired 2 verifiably good young players in Clarkson and Nance, their 1st round pick wasn't a complete disaster, and they obtained a boatload of picks. Cleveland has had worse years.
Total Impactful Decisions: 8
Weighted Average Transaction Rating: 6.1/10 Ranked #3 (out of 6)
Big Decision (70%+) Average: 6.1/10 Ranked #3 (out of 6)
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