Koby Altman & Kenny Atkinson Preseason Media Availability

Koby Altman & Kenny Atkinson Preseason Media Availability

Um, I’m really um happy with the how those turned out. I was really happy with our offseason participation and and um and um and our our monitoring kind of system, how you obviously can’t be with these guys every day. And then with our young guys, you know, they they were in here they pretty much live in here, you know, in the off season. And that that’s that’s part of it. I mean, you know, we have this incredible roster, but we also need, you know, we need the Luke Travers and the and the Jaylen Tyson. We need those guys to to to to come up and and and um help us this year. So, that that was a that was a big focus, but also on the major, you know, our our major major pieces, helping helping them get better. So, um thrilled and and it just laughs from a personal level. I just didn’t travel as much. Obviously, we get the ins and outs and but I I wasn’t kind of all over the place. So, it helped me a little bit recover um after um you know, after a grueling season and then I think that sets us sets us up sets me up well for this season having having that requisite energy to carry this team forward. And I know you don’t want to look back, but you kind of have to in order to move forward uh at that series. What were the things that stuck out to you from a team standpoint that you guys need to be better at going forward just overall? Yeah, I mean, listen, we analyzed it. We talked about a lot in the off season and and uh I think there’s um you know, there’s always tweaks, you know, when you when you you lose in a playoff. What can we tr tweak? How can we um how can we help our processes get better in in terms of improving this team? Um and and you know it was obviously emotionally you know tough on on all of us the whole organization. Um but listen we were we’re we’re kind of here in like like renew you know renewed energy and because we know the talent we have. We know we’re in that group of six you know four to six that have a chance at at at winning this win this winning this thing. So um excited. Um hopefully you’ll see during the season what those tweaks are, how we’re how we’re changing it up a bit. But I I I will make this statement. We are not we’re not reinventing this thing because I think we I think we we really we’ve really created an identity. Um not only you know onc court identity, but how we how we practice, how we develop all of it. So we’re going to double down on that and then we do make to need to make some some tweaks to how how we play. Chris Chris Chrisor at Cleveland.com Kenny for you first um so many of your players at the end of season wrap up we’re talking about you know for us it’s about the bigger picture it’s about winning at the playoffs it’s about winning a championship it’s not about the regular season because we’ve had so much success in the regular season what is your approach to this coming regular season and how can you keep these guys engaged knowing that they’re thinking bigger Yeah, I I mean I think um right from a coach’s perspective, it’s a little different. You know, we we we still want to improve. We still want to have a we still want to approach the regular season with a with a with a um with a winning mindset that we’re going to we’re going to, you know, keep our processes in place. We want to um improve every day. And I don’t I don’t know if you do that saying, hey, we’re going to, you know, take this game easier. We’re going to take this week. It doesn’t work that way. We’re, you know, we continue our building blocks. We continue um improving every day and and um I I think I think that’s the mindset to to get you over the hump in the playoffs. So, I I don’t I don’t think there’s we’re going to we’re going to take our foot off the pedal or there’s going to be some, you know, strategy where we’re just saying the heck with the the regular season. I I don’t personally I don’t think it works that way. And then Kobe for you, how would you characterize your approach to the off season and why did you approach it that way? Um, specifically to what in terms of acquisitions or Okay. Um, I think for us it’s obviously doubling down on what we have and the players we have now and and how you supplement around that. Um, you know, I think the question will come is how do you navigate this this collective bargaining agreement and the restrictions that you have? Um, but I think for us, you know, we we’ve set ourselves up uh for a runway with the guys that we have. And so tweaking, finding players on the margins. Um, obviously adding Lonzo Ball and and and Larry Nance Jr. huge additions to the roster. Um, but in terms of like how we approached this off season, I think was more getting with Kenny and saying, how do we continue to internally grow some of our best players? um all the way down to the roster, I should say, cuz Craig Porter Jr.’s been here the whole off season as well. Um but you know, how do we continue? Evan Moley’s had an incredible jump this year. He has more to grow and we knew that. He knew that he’s been locked in. I’ve been almost more excited about our internal growth more than what we’ve done as a front office, if that makes sense. And so we’re going to continue to focus on on this group. Um, you know, look, this group’s had enormous success to your point and um, you know, how do we get over that hump? It’s going to come from those internal pieces that continue to grow. Danny Cunningham locks as far as that internal growth goes with Evan. Where do you expect him on the floor to look different because of that? A few ways and I want I’ll I’ll hand it over to to Kenny. Um, but we saw his his growth offensively uh this year obviously as an all-star defensive player of the year. Um, I think with Darius being out for a little bit and we don’t know where that what that looks like. Um, we’re going to see him handle the ball a little bit more. Um, we’re going to see him bring the ball up, initiate, play through him, um, you know, out of the out of the the corners, sorry, the the elbows. Um, he’ll be a hub, offensive hub of sorts. Um, but if you watch him this this off seasonason, he’s been locked in. Uh, he is he is really serious about taking that leap uh to being a top five player in the league. Uh, his work ethic, his character. Um, you know, Kenny spent a lot of time with him out there, his leadership, too. You know, he hosted a player mini camp in LA this off season, uh, where most of his teammates were out in LA working out with him. And so, he’s grown. Um he’s still 24 years old, but now he’s becoming a grown man in terms of his body, his emotions, his maturity level. Uh although he’s always been super mature for his age. Um and so I think he’s ready to take that that next step. And you know, I’ve said it all the time, we go as he goes. You know, as he continues to rise his level or elevate his level, uh our organization continues to to grow. And um we’re we’re super excited for him. Um, but I think his leadership, his tenacity, um, he’s been in Cleveland since midepptember and so when you’re when you’re one of your best players is leading that charge along with Donovan. Um, we think we’re going to be in good shape there. And then you mentioned Darius’s injury. Just where’s he at in his recovery process? What’s the plan for him getting back on the court at what point this season? So, I think it’s it’s going to sound um counterintuitive because he was hurt, but he had a really good off season only because he focused on the things that we’ve been talking about for a long time with him, which is weight room, strength and because he couldn’t touch a basketball for a month, he had to just lift. Um, and so he’s stronger, he’s more stout. Um, he has a great attitude. I think he has a good uh his mental is in the right place. Um he’s back on the court now. He’s doing basketball activities now. Um the toe looks good. He he feels good. And um we’re certainly not going to put a timet on it. Um but he’s going to start to participate. Um you know, limited team activities in training camp, very limited. And I think for him, the biggest thing is how do we start to ramp him up from a conditioning standpoint? And that’s not something that can happen in two weeks. Um so slowly ramping him up from a conditioning standpoint. Uh but he looks good. Um he’s joining us today uh back in Cleveland. He’s been in Cleveland multiple times this summer. Um and I think he’s had a really good off seasonason uh from a strength perspective. Uh uh Terry Polo, Cleveland, Cleveland.com. Uh can you give an update uh on Strutus a little bit? What kind of surgery they do? And then Kenny, you got to tell us about the small forward stuff. You got to you’re supposed to fix all this stuff like right now about the what small forward and just what you’re going to do with that without stru. So I thought we fixed that at the deadline with DeAndre Hunter. But anyway, um well, you guys love the positional stuff. We’ll wait. No. Um, Max, unfortunately, offseason workout. Um, you know, broke his foot. Uh, had to have surgery on it. Um, not going to go too much more into the weeds on that. Uh, he’s going to miss a few months and, uh, when we get him back here, um, he’ll still come down to Sarasota with us and and probably better update after we spent some time with him there. Um but as you remember we missed significant part of the season with him to start last year as well. So we we have enough talent. We have enough depth on this roster um to to assume that loss. I think we’ll we’ll lose something from the the the the u the leadership piece, but he’ll still be around. Um I know he’s he’s probably more hurt than anybody that he can’t compete from day one with us. Uh but he he’ll come back and this is a long a long run we’re on. and um um you know he’ll come back as as soon as he can but it’s going to be a few months for good for both of you. What about say no no no Garland for a while and then whatever. Yeah. I mean I don’t think I want to you know today talk about who’s what the starting lineup is right like we’re going into a training camp and and obviously we want to compete. I mean I I you know Terry I’ll just say right off the you know DeAndre Hunter is you could argue you know been our best player of the offseason. like he’s had an incredible off season and that was, you know, that was part of that offseason kind of um um goal for me was to get to to get to know DeAndre better and and and um spend some time with him um a lot of time and and you know define his role more. So that’s a really a you know great news for us. Um and but I I you know you guys can figure it out. you can do the depth chart and all that, but I I I do think for for um you know for for a player sake we we we let play out because you you know Terry million things can happen in this league. sort of kind of get in front of it today. I don’t I don’t, you know, kind of feel comfortable doing that. Is there somebody you’re excited about that maybe isn’t like a regular name for one of those? Man, Jaylen Tyson has been um you know, we keep saying his NBA skills, how hard he plays um every possession. And that that’s kind of like role players in this league and he’s a young guy so he’s still a role player. That’s kind of what you what you have to do. So he’s checking that box. I think he’s had a I think he’s had a phenomenal off season and I’m I’m just um I’m I’m really excited like I want I want the games to start now so we can get we can get a a you know a real feel where where he is, but my my gut says he’s he’s going to be a real contributor on this team. Daryl Ryder 923 the fan. Um, this is the second straight year you guys are going to IMG uh for for camp. Just uh what did you take away from that experience last year? Obviously was positive enough for you to come back and and what do you hope that that experience does as far as preparing the team for what you hope is a very long season. Yeah. Um, you know, that was that was Kenny’s first training camp and it was again from day one of the start of that camp. You know, we got we got Brandon Williams here and and Michael Ganzy here. Um, and I looked over to him, I was like, we’re going to be pretty good. That was from day I was like the literally from day one. Um, and so the vibes coming out of that camp from Sarasota and and Bradenon and IMG, uh, we just felt really good going into the season. and it was healthy. Um, you know, it’s a 600 acre campus of straight sports. Um, and sports junkies and young athletes and student athletes that are training to get better. Um, it just fit with u sort of our culture. Um, everyone every day working to get better. You go into the training room or the weight room and Donovan’s lifting around other student athletes that are trying to get better in their respective sports. Um, and there’s a synergy there and there’s a community there of of of of talented uh young student athletes and it gives our guys some some some real energy. Um, it’s different, right? We know what the weather’s going to look like in Cleveland right now. You know, September was amazing. Um, but when that blanket comes over, uh, we’d like to get some sun, uh, get some vitamin D, um, while we’re down in Sarasota. Um, and really start start the year off fresh. Uh but you know, we’re fortunate. You know, we have a chairman in Dan Gilbert that’s that’s willing to to to give us that that luxury. Uh it’s really what it is. It’s a luxury to go down uh to Florida and have training camp in Florida. So, we’re appreciative of that. Um but IMG is a tremendous facility and a great backdrop to to start your season. And for Kenny, um Larry Nance is back uh brought back this off season. just um your thoughts on him returning and how he fits into what you hope to do uh with the team. Listen, you know, Mike, Kobe, Brandon, I mean, they did a phenomenal job getting them getting him on board. He you know, the guy obvious obviously had options um you know, to go to other teams. I know, you know, he loves Cleveland and and and loves the Cavs, but you know, you know, it’s it’s not easy. So, that was kind of a coup to me that we we we actually got him. I I didn’t think it was going to happen. I’m like, man, no way. You know, he’s got he’s just got really good options. Um and and so when when you know, when the news came through, I was like, “Oh, man.” Cuz you know, before he got hurt last year, I mean, he was having a phenomenal year. um you know and and uh so um you know obviously the vet presence obviously corporate knowledge of like you know kind of the the the the organization and and um um the city that that’s important um and then he’s a hell of a player right like it’s a it’s a it’s a luxury to have him and obviously he can do it do it on both ends I love that he he had that up uptick in in three-point shooting last year, just the attempts, I think it was six a game. Like, we want to continue that. Um, continue to get him to do that even though he’s a heck of a playmaker. Um, but man, the guy’s in here 8:00 every morning, you know, and we add another high character professional to our organization and that that’s, you know, you talk about like, well, what what’s the tweaks going to be? What’s the strategy? like that’s that to me is where you you you know you’re you’re talking about making another you know improvement to get over the hump that we want to get over. So um great signing um thrilled and and I’ll just you know just because I know it’s going to h you you guys are going to ask but Lonzo is is kind of the second piece of that like um I thought that was a a phenomenal pickup. Um, I just, you know, how many 66 point guards with his skill set on both ends, um, you know, add that to your roster, um, is just, um, I we we hit it out of the park with our with our offseason. Credit again, credit to these guys because that was part of my being here, observing how that all goes on and how we how we got to the point of of getting these guys. So, um, I’m excited. Those guys those guys boost us to another level. It’s just just that simple. Rey, Associated Press. Nice job being precient there since I’m going to ask about Lonzo. Um, just where is he at right now? Especially since it wasn’t an off season where he’s had to rehab and maybe concentrate on basketball and, you know, with condition, where’s he at at the moment? Do you want me to answer? You want to answer? Yeah. Um, I mean, he he was in here yesterday, hooped yesterday, looked great. Um, we, you know, you know, with his history, we obviously have to have a smart plan in place, right? Um, you know, but I I I do think he, you know, he had some bad luck, right? Last year, he had to wrist. Like that’s that’s kind of not that’s just that’s just, you know, a bad luck thing. So, you know, we are um you know, Steve and his group and our performance group that that’s going to be a big part of it, you know, um preparing his body, getting a good plan in place, and at the end of the day, we we need that guy healthy for the playoffs and and because he’s a heck of a player. Um and and I I don’t not sure, you know, you guys know how good he is defensively. That that’s what really excites me. I mean, high steel guy. He’s a guy to get three steals in 10 minutes. um you know, really great feel on the defensive end and a heck of a defensive competitor. So, really excited about that. Then, you know, we had the second best offense in the league like with this guy like he he just he just adds like he fits what we do um to a tea. Um and I think he’ll he’ll add a lot. Um and I just I just love his his character, man. He’s he’s just uh he’s low-key. um wants to hoop um and and already I can see he’s he’s made two suggestions already the coaching staff. I’m like yes and yes that you don’t think of right you don’t think of everything and and u you know we’re going to get that IQ part two um from a guy that’s that you know has has seen it all in the league. So um I’m I want to go crazy here like but I’m I’m like over the top excited um about uh how he’s going to fit in with the group. just the suggestions are they in terms of practice schedule or strategy strategy. uh one was an offensive um suggestion and and one on the defensive end and uh you know there’s just certain guys as a coach you lean on right Darius I lean on Daredana you know starting more with Evan but these guys these guys are out there and they feel it and they see it and plus he’s had great experiences in the league uh with good coaches they always always bring something I’m I’m I’m going to lean on him this year I’ve already told him that it’s already been a good good back and forth you need that with your point guards You got to you got to have that that uh that relationship. Mike, Mike Lucas, Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. Kenny, you talked about players making jumps from year one to year two, teams making a jump, but the same coaching staff, but from a staff perspective, I know you guys lost Jordan, changed G-League coaches. How does a staff improve from one year to the next when they’re together for that long? Yeah, that’s that’s a great question. I’m glad you you brought that up. I mean, that that’s I think that’s part of my role is staff development. Um and and um you know with the the support of Kobe and the front office um we we did kind of make an intentional choice of of um of much like our roster relying on continuity and and uh we obviously lost lost some key members. Uh we brought in Jawad Williams everybody knows you know another local guy and and and I shouldn’t probably talk about it. He’s been phenomenal. I I I just I mean it told you that he’s been like a home run. Um and and we you know all of us you know Brandon my co we we have a lot of discussions about these these these moves because it’s so important. We also talk to the players. Hey what you know um what do you guys think how we should approach this? Um but but uh you know part of my job is developing this staff, helping them grow and I’m I’m just uh kind of thrilled with with with Jawad and we obviously brought in a new JV coach um Eli who’s been fantastic too. So it’s part of the program building you know and that that that part um excites me excites all of us because they they they know how important it is. I appreciate you asking about it. And then for for both of you guys, obviously we know how last season ended and you look at the Eastern Conference, no Tatum, no Hallebertton, with the expectations you guys have within this building for yourselves. Is there kind of a a feeling of pressure knowing that this could be the best opportunity for you guys to break through and make the NBA finals, win the NBA championship? Yeah, I wouldn’t say best opportunity because I feel like we’re we’re going to have multiple bites at this apple, right? And so injuries aside, I hope everybody’s healthy. I I hate that um we see these injuries happening in them because it happens to us and it’s not so funny when when it’s you. And so, you know, last year when those guys were healthy, we still felt like we had a great chance. Uh even more so this year after another year adversity, another year of of of building. Um you know, I’ll say this, you know, the last three years, uh we’ve had the third best record in the NBA. You know, third to Boston and OKC. And so I just urge you know everyone here and we know this internally don’t take this run for granted. Don’t take this group for granted. You know winning is extremely hard in this NBA especially with the parody with the new CBA. Um the competition level, the talent level coming into this league. It’s extraordinarily hard to win in this league and this group continues to do it um night in night out, season after season and set ourselves up. Uh to your question about urgency, there’s urgency in everything we do. Um and it’s a broad term. Um we try to put the wins and losses to the side. What we’re urgently urgently looking at is on the margins. How can we improve on the margins from the roster to our offense to our defense. Um you know, even at the front office level, um you know, I think we do a great job of finding undervalued talent. you know, seven out of the 15 roster spots that we have under contract now are either undrafted or second round picks. And so that’s a testament to the front office really searching across the globe to continue to supplement this group, this core group, um, with talent so we can continue this run. So, uh, the urgency is always there. You know, when you have a chairman and Dan Gilbert that’s putting that pressure on you, um, it’s always it’s good pressure, right? We we we we live for this. We want to be in this moment where uh the expectation is finals, championship, that’s where we want to live. Um and putting the the landscape of injuries aside, like you know, we we’re going to compete for a championship this year, uh regardless and next year and the year after. And that’s what we’re setting ourselves up for. And so the urgency is in the processes and and how do we get better in the process and the results will follow. Jimmy Watkins, Cleveland.com. Kenny, to a man at exit interviews last year, the guys were saying, “We need to get tougher.” Um, what is your role in that process getting tougher? Um, listen, I I you know, I don’t know what your definition of tough is, you know, because I think we we’re extremely competitive. We’re the most, you know, one of the most competitive teams in the league. just just a you know um so um I think we’re tough enough personally. I think we’re competitive enough. Um but you know it it’s all the stuff that Kobe’s talking about. We’re just it’s so multiaceted where where we have to get better. But I like our toughness. I like our Met makeup. I like our identity. I love our leadership. um you know so um you know and and players have their thing right you know that that you know but from my perspective um you know we we kind of have what we need to compete for this championship from a from a character makeup and we we talked a lot you guys have alluded to Evan’s summer how he’s had a a big summer what has that kind of looked like what is what is the next step for him you think well first of all you’ll notice how much stronger he’s gotten and and this is a natural ever, you know, like 23 to 24 and and and uh like Kobe talk about his his maturity, his his makeup, you can just you just feel it, right? You just sense that he’s he’s ready to make another another jump. The seriousness in which he approaches off season uh from a body perspective and then then from a basketball perspective, he’s he’s different. I I don’t I don’t I don’t know how to exactly define that, but I feel like there’s a there’s a confidence um um you know, brewing here that maybe we haven’t seen before. And he was a confident player last year cuz he he affects winning, right? He knows he can win in this league, but there’s almost like I I feel like there’s another um kind of another level coming. Um and and uh I I love that it started with his body. He knew he had to get stronger and and um I think I think you’re going to see that um kind of when the season starts. Cameron Cameron Justice, News5 Cleveland. You guys talked a little bit about DeAndre Hunter’s role, but how much and in what ways can a full summer and even the start of a regular season help unlock some of the things that you want to see from him showcase his fit? And is there more to unlock from him as this season goes on? Thank you for the question, Cameron, and thanks for covering our our local stuff, our our community stuff. It’s been really impactful um for you to cover our guys locally and in the community. So, thank you for that. Um DeAndre joined us when we were in the middle of a 14game win streak. Um which is hard, right? We were rolling. He wanted to come in and fit in. Um he didn’t want to detract. Um we were getting to know him. um we didn’t realize um how multiaceted he is offensively and so as he’s trying to fit in space the corner uh a few plays run for him but us realizing how much more he has uh to elevate this group both sides of the ball and just as a human being right you you you get traded mid-season and it’s not mid-season trade deadline is almost you know you’re 50 games in there’s 30 games left it’s not even 40 games it’s 30 games left you you know, you’re uprooted a little bit. Uh he has a young kid. He’s moving to Cleveland. He wanted to he was happy to come. Uh but you’re living out of a hotel. Uh you don’t have your foundation um set. You don’t have a a routine yet. Um and so him spending a lot of time in Cleveland this off season. Um you know, learning the community, um you know, being in the gym, uh being around his teammates, um he loves it here. and now he has a foundation of what’s going to be the whole summer training camp um and then coming to a team that really needs him. Uh that really needs him. And so I’ll let co coach talk about the basketball side. Uh but it it’s really an underrated story in terms of how much DeAndre Hunter is going to uh put his stamp on on this season. Um and we’re super excited about about him. I mean just think of incredible start out of the gate when he came to us. I don’t I don’t know how long that went on. He was phenomenal. Little bit of a lull. I think that was, you know, trying to get adjusted to getting traded and getting apart, all that stuff. And I don’t know, you know, the Miami series, maybe you guys could, but I he’s one of our best players, you know, like he was unbelievable in that first round series. I mean, incredible. Um, and then watching him out here in the offseason, I’m I’m just, you know, sitting next to these guys, I’m like, this guy is so talented. Um he’s um great size, shoots the heck out of the ball, can put it can get you a bucket in in different areas. So for me, what I really tried to do this is just build the relationship with him, build, you know, build that bond, build and I didn’t get to do that last year and that was probably, you know, you have regrets or you look back on see, man, I could have done a better job there. Well, you know, this summer I was really really um I thought that was really important. And through those conversations, through building that relationship, we’ve we’ve talked about what is that going to look like tactically? Where are we going to get you the ball? Where do you like the ball? Hey, I like it. You know, here I like this action and and uh you know, that that was kind of my beginning statement. Where are the tweaks? What are the tweaks we’re going to do? We’re definitely going to make some tweaks. And and some of that is geared towards him to get him put him in a better position. Um, but again, you know, I I don’t know. I think statistically had he had an incredible year for for us. Um, you know, but I I know there’s more in there. Excited to um to see his um his growth this year. You guys mentioned getting over the hump. So many guys at the end of the season talked about that they needed the experience and losing in that way to maybe instill a little bit more hunger, not just toughness, but the hunger to do it. Do you agree with needing that experience? And are there indicators as you get into the season, even in training camp, that show you that they have embodied that there is a chance for them to take that experience and and carry it over? I think I mean it it certainly hurt to lose in the second round last year. Um they’re all at the end of the day taking a step back, they’re they’re all great experiences in terms of adversity. uh to be this young and being at this level. Um you know, our core four is an average age of 26.5, right? And we have them under contract for multiple years um to come. And so they’re going to face more adversity, right? They’re going to face more setbacks um and it’s only going to make them stronger. I do think that and coach speed that this summer um there’s been more intention. The hard work with a perspective has been different. Um, Diamond Mitchell has been just a tremendous teammate and leader for this organization. Um, but we we’re kind of trying to hold him back from himself right now, right? He’s in mid-season form right now and we need him peing at the end of the season. Um, he’s been very intentional about how he wants to um, you know, condition his body to be ready for this run. and at 29 years old, coming off the best year of his career, um he’s ready to make that leap. He he he’s hungry. He’s he he’s dying to make that that next jump in his career, but he’s doing it with actions. He’s intentional. Um and like I said, with the perspective and the adversity we’ve been through, um it’s been a really, really positive off season and it’s leading to Cleveland now. you know, they’ve been in Cleveland since midepptember, which is um which is very unique uh for for for a group of this of this caliber. Tony Pesa, Fear of the Sword. Uh this question is for Kenny. You mentioned the team’s identity earlier. Could you talk more about what exactly that identity is both on offense and defense? I mean, you know, obviously offensively we wanted to uh increase our pace and and and really um you know, see if we could, you know, get out in transition more. I I think we’re top two in transition efficiency. So, that was that was mission accomplished. I think um being more intentional about getting getting that in the ball um and spreading the wealth a little more um in in in terms of uh uh you know thinking about what leads to playoff success and we we can we can still do a better job with that. I think you’ll see especially with Darius out like like like uh Kobe said um we got to keep sh we got to keep moving that way. Um, and obviously we had an offensive rebound, extra possession, um, mentality, which I was thrilled about. Um, we gave ourselves a a real chance and a real chance in the playoffs cuz we were were getting extra possessions. Um, listen, our defensive identity starts with our defensive player of the year. Um, you know, and Evan and then then is backed up by Jared Allen. Always, you know, are two kind of um um lynch pins on on the defensive side. Um, I do think we can make progress there, though. I think we can be a more active team. Um, I think we can be a little more aggressive, um, team. You know, again, talking about the possession gains, creating more turnovers. So, I do think you’ll see a um, you know, kind of a added um, level of intensity um, defensively. But, we have a great system in place. And again, these again these are tweaks and and then not like wholesale changes cuz you know um I’ I’ve seen that happen where you oh man we we lost to this we got to change everything and then then that could go to you know that that can end up hurting you. So um but again it it really starts with our best players and that’s what what good coaches do. I think they they plan your system and your identity around your best players and I think I feel like we’re in a really good good place with that. Um, and then this question is for Kobe. Uh, you’ve had the same core group essentially for a while now. What are you hoping to learn this season from them? Is there anything new you’re looking for? Yeah, I think each year um the the core four grows. Um, even though we’re we’re particularly young, um, we’ve had a lot of experience and so obviously we want to see Evan take another jump. We want Darius to get healthy. Um he had the best year of of his career uh last year, most efficient year of his career. Same thing with with Donovan. Um and like I said before, that that core group is 26.5. If I thought there was they were done growing, you know, then we would look to do something. Um but when you have a group that talented, that young, and under team control, um you we’re handing it off to the coaching staff and say continue to grow these guys, continue to to to elevate their careers, respectively. Um, you know, they bring tremendous character to this building. These are three guys that signed extensions, four guys that signed extensions, I should say, um, to be in Cleveland for the long term. Um, we were one of the only teams in the NBA to have three allstars. And so, I’m not bringing that up. You know, I just this is something you want to stick with. And like I said, don’t take this for granted. You know, this is a special group. This is a special era. and and we hope to encapsulate that with with some real playoff success and a championship to come. But um you know, this group has accomplished a lot and they’re still young and hungry and still growing. Jason, Jason Lloyd, the athletic Kobe, when we talk about injuries, I know you guys study injuries closely. I’m just wondering what you make of all of the injuries across the league, particularly Achilles injuries. If you guys have found found a common thread or if you have any theories as to why we’ve seen an uptick. It’s a great question, uh Jason. Um I think the league just did a study and and they came away with that there is no trend but um I I I beg to differ. I think there’s a lot of complexities there. Um and uh I think there’s a few things that we have to be very mindful of as as a staff is is the amount of meaningful games. And I say meaningful, they’re all meaningful. Um but but games that put more pressure on players and so if that’s the inseason tournament um the Emirates Cup if you will you know those four or five games to get to that cup or get to that quarterfinal um those are playoff intensity level games um and we’re not going to tell our guys to to slow down in those games either. And so the minutes go up the load goes up and so that’s the front end of your of your season. So you’re starting with a higher load there. um you’re competing uh after the All-Star break for playoff position and I think what gets missed is the top six teams are fighting to stay in that top six so you don’t have to play in the playin and then the bottom four or six teams that are competing for playing are in a mad sprint towards the end of the season and every single game towards the end of the season um is playoff level to to stay into that playin game. And so over the course of 82 games, um there’s a lot more higher load. Um the other thing that we study is, you know, the last five years, um they say scoring goes up, three-pointers goes up, but possessions have gone up. And so it’s not the same as the 1980s and the 70 in the in the ’90s. um there’s just more possessions which means more sprints and more miles run and more cuts and movement um for for players that we put a lot of uh responsibility on. So, I think all of that collectively um has potentially led to um more injuries. Um you know, we I thought did an amazing job last year sort of navigating that 82 game schedule. Um and and we’re unlucky the last 10 games or 10 days of the season essentially. Um so, it goes, but we’re still studying it. Uh we’re still looking at it. Um, I think the the thing that I love about Kenny is he’s not afraid to use his bench and it helps us. It develops us. It gives our top tier front end guys a little rest during the season. Uh, but it’s going to help us in the long term because as you know, this is a really restrictive uh salary cap era we’re in. And so, you have to those end of bench roster young guys have to eventually evolve and grow and become main stays as rotational players. Um because you can’t continue to roll out Donovan Mitchell for 38 minutes a night. It’s just not sustainable for him. And so we have to see the young guys continue to progress and get better. Um but I wish I had the answer. Everyone’s trying to study it. Everyone’s trying to figure it out. Uh there’s no there’s no particular way. I wish I had the answer for you, but I do know that uh the intensity, the possessions, and the load on players bodies has gone up dramatically in the last five five years. You may have just answered it yourself, but Donovan specifically has had calf injuries now the last couple years, and we know calf leads to Achilles. So, what is is that just bad luck on the timing on his injuries the last couple years, or is have you guys studied that in terms of him specifically to try and avoid that in the future? It’s a good question. Um, I think with with Donovan specifically, um, he played, I believe, 70 plus games last year, um, which was the most for us. um I think the second most in his career. Um I think we have him on a really good plan. Um and uh the last few years obviously the the the calf strain um against Boston was devastating because it took him out. This past year I knew he was dealing with some soreness but he still was able to play. Um I think everyone’s dealing with soreness and some something ailing in the playoffs and um he would have continued on. Um but the plan in place for him is really good. I think he’s keenly aware of his body um and especially this off season how he’s going to try to have this marathon. We want to play into June and so I think he’s very cognizant of what he needs to do to to be his best when it matters. Jeff Shudal News Herald. Kenny, I I hear you say what you said about the toughness of your team, but Jared Allen, fair or unfair, he’s one that drew the most criticism, and he was hard on himself after the um losing in the in the playoffs. So, what can you do to get more out of him, especially in in the playoffs? Yeah, I think I think we have to um um first of all, um I do think the criticism was unfair. um because he’s a heck heck of a player and a vital piece. He’s he’s part of our core for um I I do think that was one of the offseason kind of deep dives, how how can we use him better? Um how can we take advantage of him? Um you know, when a team goes five out, whether it’s on the offensive end or or defensive end. So, I’m not going to get get into the specifics, but I I always when you have a player that good and that talented, it’s on us as coaches um to to to to help him. So, um I do think you’ll see some shifts there on on on how we how we use him. Not not radical by any means because we really want to lean on his strengths, but we can we we can we can help Jared. um you know um especially you know when you’re when you’re talking about these five out teams that that that uh you know that can hurt you. U but he he has all the ability to to to to execute any coverage we want. We just got to figure out what what that what the best thing is for him. So is he gotten bigger and stronger? I mean he’s young he’s young but not he also we played 82 straight games last year. You got to have some resilience to do that. He played every single playoff game last year. Five double doubles in the playoffs. Um, look, I think everyone wishes that they had the Indiana series back, right? Including um, missing our all-star point guard and give Indiana credit. you know, they credible run um led by coach Carla. There’s also, you know, they knew we were down a point guard and so picking up 94 feet, stretching the floor um was a great strategy and and it hurt us and I wish we had our our all-star point guard for that series. I think that was to me the one of the bigger takeaways is not having that ball handling against that pressure. And so, um look, Jared um he’s a great player. He’s been been to the All-Star game. Um he’s been a mainstay. He’s a reason we have the def defense we have. And so to just, you know, point to him, uh I think is is is unfair. I didn’t know you knew my name. All right. If it was Gabby, I’d go by Gab. You got it. Uh Gav Cruz, Big Play Sports Network. Uh good to see you guys. I just had a quick question back for DeAndre Hunter. Um you’re valuing that relationship building as you pointed out. Is there anything about his personality that kind of stuck out stuck out or about his work ethic? I know he mentioned he’s a self-proclaimed introvert and there is a dance to getting to gel with each player. So, I was curious. Yeah, he’s an introvert. Um, and and I think uh again that’s that’s part of our job, right, to figure how do you how you create that relationship depending on the player’s personality. Um, but I think, you know, I think, you know, he’s someone you really really got to build is trust, right? And that’s that’s that’s probably the most important thing I’ I’ve seen from him. And and it takes, you know, that takes time. Um, and and I’m I’m not saying we’re there yet, right? This I think I think this is an ongoing process where like but I I feel really good that kind of we’ve made a big jump and not just me, just the whole coaching staff, right? It’s not not just the head coach cuz those those interactions are important. How’s he talking to Mike Garrett? Is he you know how’s he relating to Trevor like it it’s all it’s all connected. Um and um like I said I it’s we got to keep building the trust and and uh building our credibility. Um I think most of it we got we got to prove ourselves to him and I’m I’m uh like I said I think we we’ve made some real progress this off season. And then uh with Darius, you know, we’ve pointed out the average age of this team is still pretty young, youthful guys here and he is a leader. You know, he’s a leader, but um also what about expectations? I know at the end of last year in the thick of it, you were like, I need my most mature Darius Garland right now. What are your expectations for him this season healthy and how will you measure that? You want to take it or talk about uh Darius because he’s continues to grow and and mature uh under you and his voice has grown. um he’s he’s been a mainstay, right? He’s been a part of this this evolution of Cavaliers basketball and so he has a a lot of equity here. Um and his voice matters and his teammates love him. Um and so I just, you know, from when we drafted him until now. He’s 25, right? Seems like he’s been here forever. He’s still 25. um to see his maturity grow, um to have like a perspective on this injury knowing it’s not taking him out for a long period of time and what he needs to do to get ready for this season. Um he’s ready. He’s ready. Uh I think he’s ready to to have real playoff success. Um and he was on his way to doing that before before the toe. So coach and uh coach was a point guard, you know, at Richmond and and back in his day. And so when he was interviewing for the job, he loved Darius. He loves the player, loves the person. Um, and under his toutelage, you know, got Darius back to the all-star level. And so, there’s a lot of trust there, which is great. Um, and we’re going to continue to see him him grow. Yeah. I I just I have a great relationship with him. I mean, I don’t know. It’s a point guard thing, you know. He’s like, you know, coaches have their pets. Like, he he’s one of my, you know, I just I just enjoy him. I love how he plays. I love he’s pure point guard, but can get you 40. like you know um and um you know he’s he but he knows we’re challenging him right he’s got to get better physically I keep you know telling him about the Steph you know the Steph evolution how Steph just got stronger and stronger and kept improving his body and and uh and I I think like Kobe said I think he’s this this injury might be a blessing in disguise because I know he’s he’s really paid attention to to you know the strength part and and And um so um you know that’s that’s that’s his next step. Um but you know I I just like I said I have a great relationship with him. He’s got great relationship with his teammates. Um and that’s that’s our job, right? He’s he’s got to take that next jump for us to get over the hump. Eden Sandscle.com. You guys have both mentioned the acquisitions that you’ve made this offseason, but also the internal development that you guys have had. One of those is resigning Sam Merrill to a contract extension for this coming season and for the future. Um but also in conjunction with that was the loss of Tai Jerome this off seasonason. Could you go into the the decision for that and how that came about? So um losing Tai is a tough loss. Um and we obviously wish Tai nothing but the best. He’s a friend of mine and I’m excited for his his future in in Memphis. Um, if you look look back at last year, essentially Sam Merrill and Tyro were playing on minimum contracts essentially. And in this in this salary cap era, you can’t keep everybody. Um, it’s really difficult. And especially the way, you know, Kenny coaches, um, he grows internally, he grows from within. Um, and he unearths talent that you have on your roster. And because of that, they become more valuable in the marketplace. And so it’s really hard to keep to keep everyone. Um Sam provides a different skill set. It’s really really hard to find. Um you know, we will miss the playmaking of of Tai, but I do think that we’ll be able to assume that from other pieces that we have on the roster. Uh but but the movement, shooting, the competitiveness, uh the toughness of of of Sam, uh he’s such a cultural piece. um you know, drafted 60th overall, goes to the G- League. We pick him up uh as a you know, unsigned free agent. Um he hits 10 threes and then John Nichols like we probably need to sign him to a two-way just to keep him off the streets, you know. Um and so we did that and now he’s grown through our system. Um and and he’s a mainstay in the rotation. And so that’s a success story, right? um of finding um you know these undervalued talents and then growing them and then handing them off to a head coach that believes in them. Um and so you have to make difficult decisions in this salary cap era. It’s really difficult, but we feel really good about about Tai I mean about about Sam and then adding Lonzo uh to supplement our backcourt depth was a big part of that. Um and so we’re excited about about Lonzo moving forward. Um, but yeah, these are these are difficult decisions um and not easy. And Kenny, obviously you talked a lot about the offense throughout today’s press conference, but also you’ve mentioned in the past that this is a defense first team. Do you still believe that you guys are a defense first team going into this next season or are you a mixture of both? Is it an even ground? I think balance like I think balance wins. You know, you want to be it’s statistically you want to be top 10 offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency. Once you do that, um, you know, you’re in the conversation to to to be the best team in the league. So, we are that listen, but we’re always challenging ourselves, like I want to we want to make a another jump in in in in both areas, you know. Um, but I’m I’m I feel I feel good where we’re at. Um, like I said, I I I do like we had Lonzo, you know, Lonzo’s defensive piece. you know, obviously losing losing ice. You know, we you know, we got Lonzo and then obviously Larry’s been a really good defensive player his whole career. So, um that that um gives a real um um really excited about that um you know, for our defense. But you got to be got to be great on both ends to have a chance at this thing. Okay, it’s going to wrap for us everybody. Thanks for coming. Thank you everybody. We appreciate it. for emails for media days. We’re going out uh today and tomorrow with all the information about parking and things like that.

Hear from Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman and Head Coach Kenny Atkinson from Cleveland Clinic Courts as they speak with the media ahead of the 2025-26 season.