LeBron Chose Philadelphia. Koby Altman Says Cleveland's Plan Never Depended on Him

Cleveland was the only team LeBron James actually met with this summer, according to his agent, Rich Paul. James picked Philadelphia anyway. Koby Altman says that's fine.

We can't be reliant on one outcome.

Altman, who runs the Cavaliers' basketball operations, said Friday he isn't pretending the decision was small. His point was that the team's talent, coaching and performance staff are set up for a long run no matter what one player decides. He called it a really good offseason: better now, better set up for later and more flexible financially.

What Cleveland did instead

The Cavs quickly traded for wing Peyton Watson in a five-team deal and gave him $88 million over four years. Donovan Mitchell had already signed a four-year, $273 million extension on the first day of free agency. James Harden, acquired at the deadline, signed for three years and $97 million, which got Cleveland under both aprons.

Watson, 24, had career highs of 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in Denver and shot 41% from 3. Coach Kenny Atkinson said the first thing he notices in the gym is his defense. He also gave Harden, 37, credit for showing up three weeks before camp to organize workouts.

The Cavs have won 50-plus games two years running and made the conference finals last season before the Knicks swept them. With the champion Knicks, the new-look Sixers and Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami, Cleveland is barely being talked about. Altman said he doesn't mind; teams had to get better to catch the Cavs.