The Cleveland Cavaliers introduced new general manager Koby Altman on Wednesday during a press conference led by owner Dan Gilbert. While both of them for the most part deflected questions about Kyrie Irving, Gilbert was more blunt when it came to (unsolicitedly) commenting on what the Indiana Pacers received in return for Paul George.
Per ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin:
Hours before the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off a surprise trade to acquire Paul George from the Indiana Pacers on June 30, the Cleveland Cavaliers thought they had a done deal in place to nab the four-time All-Star.
Nearly a month later, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert still doesn’t seem to be over it.
“I will say that Indiana could’ve done better than it did,” Gilbert said Wednesday, when asked about the failed trade during new Cavs general manager Koby Altman’s introductory news conference.
This must make Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
There is definitely some resentment in this quip, since the Cavaliers believed they were on the verge of acquiring George. But Gilbert isn’t wrong.
Receiving a package assembled around Gary Harris and picks would have been much better for the Pacers’ rebuilding effort than Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. And if staying mediocre was their goal, that’s all the more reason to take on Kevin Love as part of any trade.
This isn’t about hindsight. Nor is it about Oladipo being under team control for the next four years. Harris is extension-eligible. The Pacers could have brokered a new deal with him or let his situation ride into restricted free agency, at which time they’d have the right to match any offer he fields. That route is far more appealing than anything the one they opted for.
So, yes, Gilbert is correct: Indiana botched the George trade.
But Cleveland has bungled just about every possible aspect of its offseason as well.
