Press Conference Overview
On September 16, 2025, Koby Altman, the president of basketball operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers, held a press conference at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to discuss significant updates, including the announcement of a new WNBA franchise in the city.
Trade Deadline Strategy
Altman’s focus soon shifted to the Cavaliers’ trade deadline strategy and implications for future salary cap management.
Despite the franchise’s efforts, the Cavaliers will conclude the current season above the second apron threshold. This was partially due to recent trades, including the departure of Lonzo Ball and the acquisition of two second-round picks, which were aimed at alleviating financial pressure and moving closer to the cap limit.
Yet, just prior to the deadline, the team found itself nearly $3.9 million shy of fully stepping back from this financial tier, ultimately opting not to make any moves that would jeopardize their current roster.
Future Implications
Looking ahead, Altman expressed optimism that the team could navigate under the second apron by the summer, enabling them to bundle contracts for potential trades. However, there are consequences of remaining above the threshold, such as the restriction to trade a first-round pick that is seven years out because of the team’s position.
Furthermore, this prospective 2032 first-round pick will be added to the lower end of the draft until the Cavaliers successfully remove themselves from the second apron. The implications of the Stepien rule also hinder the team’s flexibility regarding future trades.
Commitment to Current Roster
Ultimately, the aims of these trades were more about immediate performance than future trading capacity, as noted by Altman.
“To get under the second apron, we would have needed to sacrifice a rotational player, which we weren’t willing to do at this stage,”
he said, reflecting on their commitment to making a playoff push without compromising the current squad’s integrity.
Altman concluded that despite not achieving all their financial goals this deadline, they remained focused on strategies that ensured the best chance of winning now, with plans to reassess their financial position in the off-season.
Looking Ahead
As the Cavaliers look to build momentum into the playoffs, the balancing act of managing salary cap limits while maintaining a competitive roster continues to be a critical factor in their long-term strategy.
