Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman spoke publicly at his end-of-season news conference on Friday about the team’s future direction.

The Cavaliers had been routinely linked with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo even before Cleveland was swept out of the Eastern Conference Finals by the New York Knicks.

Reports suggested the Bucks would want Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley included in any package that sent Antetokounmpo to Cleveland.

Altman addressed those rumors directly but refused to be drawn into speculation about players outside the organisation.

“I’m not going to speculate on any players outside these walls,” Altman said, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Altman pointed to Mobley’s significant contribution to the team’s sustained success over the past five years as evidence of his importance.

“Since Evan’s been here, we’ve had the third-best record in the league for five years,” Altman said, adding that Mobley has been “a huge part of what we do.”

Altman also addressed the future of Donovan Mitchell, who will become extension-eligible during the offseason, expressing confidence that the star wants to remain in Cleveland.

“All I could tell you is Donovan has been steadfast in how much he loves it here,” Altman said, noting there had been no question over whether Mitchell wanted to stay.

February acquisition James Harden is expected to opt out of his current contract and receive a new multi-year deal from Cleveland following the playoff exit.

Altman acknowledged the team’s disappointment at how the season ended while also defending what has been built at the franchise over recent years.

“I always say two things can be true — we hated the way it ended, we were disappointed with the way it ended,” Altman said during his news conference comments.

He pointed to the organisation’s standards and belief in its culture as the foundation for continued ambition moving forward this offseason.

“We believe in the culture that we built. We believe in the players that we have in house,” Altman added, referencing the team’s ownership and resources.

Joe Vardon also reported that Altman could soon speak with LeBron James, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent and has been linked with a return to Cleveland after his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Koby Altman Backs Evan Mobley And Dismisses Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Talk After Cavaliers Exit appeared first on Gooner Daily.