Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Kobe Altman has agreed a contract extension through the 2027-28 season -- and will assume a new title of president of basketball operations, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
Altman has built a franchise renaissance and reshaped a roster that has shown promise to be a long-term factor in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers made a dramatic improvement on three consecutive lottery finishes after LeBron James, and Altman drafted two young players (guard Darius Garland and forward/centre Evan Mobley) and traded for another (centre Jarrett Allen). Showing all-star potential. Kevin Love has re-emerged as a key player for the Cavaliers this season, and an offseason trade for Ricky Rubio—who has been lost for the season with a torn ACL—played a big part in the Cavaliers' renaissance.
Altman is considered one of the early pioneers for the league's executive of the year award, along with Arturas Karnisova of the Chicago Bulls and Zack Kleiman of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Altman's representative for WME, Brett Just, completed discussions with the franchise on a new deal earlier this week, sources said.
The Cavaliers are sixth in the East with a 23–18 record – and this is coming in the wake of three straight seasons no more than 13th in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers recently extended coach JB Bickerstaff's contract for the 2026–27 season.
Altman was promoted to GM in July 2017, a year after the Cavaliers won the NBA title. He moved to Cleveland's front office in 2012, from pro personnel department to assistant GM.