The Cleveland Cavaliers will enter the upcoming season with a retained core of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, while adding Peyton Watson to the mix.

The Cavaliers will be seeking redemption after getting swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals in May.

On Friday, it was announced that there will be a new man running the show for Wine and Gold after Brandon Weems was promoted to general manager, according to a report from ESPN. He replaced Mike Gansey, whom the Philadelphia 76ers hired as the president of basketball operations.

The Cavs are promoting executive Brandon Weems to General Manager under President Koby Altman, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/QgmlE8m1rv

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 18, 2026

The 40-year-old Weems had been Cleveland's assistant general manager since 2022. Previously, he served as the senior director of player personnel and the director of scouting.

Before rising through the ranks in the NBA, he was a staff assistant at Kentucky and was part of the national championship team in 2021. He later served in the same role at Drexel before being hired as an assistant coach at Oakland University.

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Weems is a close friend and former teammate of LeBron James.

“James' agent, Rich Paul, referred to Weems as ‘basically LeBron's brother' during the superstar's free agency process this summer. Paul indicated that Weems' presence was a pro in the Cavaliers' pursuit before James ultimately chose to sign with the (Philadelphia) 76ers,” noted ESPN.

Weems joined the Cavaliers in 2015, James' second season after his return to his hometown team.

Koby Altman, Cleveland's president of basketball operations, prioritized continuity in promoting from within instead of picking an external candidate. Altman also promoted Gansey from assistant general manager to general manager in 2022.