Cleveland Cavaliers: Why Evan Mobley Makes The Cavs A Better Team
The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t going to trade the 3rd overall pick. This is a top-heavy draft. The talent the Cavs can get at their spot makes it essential they stay put. Evan Mobley is the guy the team should zero in on.
It is very possible that Houston takes Mobley. For the sake of this argument, let’s assume the Rockets take Jalen Green, the G/F from the G-League Ignite. The Cavaliers picking a talent such as Mobley gives them a distinct advantage over anyone in this draft class. There isn’t a big man available that can touch his potential.
Mobley was considered one of the top recruits coming out of high school. The USC alumni had a stellar year for the Trojans during his only collegiate season. What Mobley did was showcase the ability to stretch the floor, defend the paint, and display his athleticism. All of these traits are pivotal to the development of the Cavs roster, one that needs to re-sign Jarrett Allen to really get the most out of Mobley and the roster for the future.
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Allen, acquired in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets last season, is a defensive dynamo. He’s not going to extend his game to the 3-point line, rather a dominant shot-blocker and rebounder. That’s going to play very well with the game of Mobley, who’s a hybrid of sorts. He can stretch the floor. Mobley also contributed 2.9 blocks in college. That would give Cavs coach, J.B. Bickerstaff something he hasn’t had much of, options.
Assuming Cleveland trades Kevin Love (and even if they didn’t) the pairing of Mobley and Allen will be the starting duo at the 4 and 5. What the Cavs then have is a defensive frontcourt unit that will include Issac Okoro at the 3. As a backup, Love (if still rostered), Larry Nance Jr., and Dean Wade. The frontcourt would have a nice mix of size, shooting, playmaking, and defense.
Since the talk in Cleveland has been all about dealing Colin Sexton, he’s given a chance here to have a lot of the scoring load taken off him, as Mobley can provide that. What a Mobley draft selection does do, it gives Darius Garland another potential pick-and-pop option. That’s not Jarrett Allen at all. And Kevin Love hasn’t been that player for years. In actuality, Sexton can also thrive in this scenario as well. If he doesn’t have tunnel vision, there’s a lot of opportunities for him to increase his passing.
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We can base this Cavs selection on need, but it is also best available. Jalen Green would be a fine choice, however, for that to really work, Sexton needs to move to a bench role. Until Cleveland has explored every option, that can’t be on the table. Mobley allows the roster to stay constructed as is without moving any pieces around. Adding a secondary bench scorer will be crucial, via trade or free agency the Cavs can get that.
When it comes down to it, Mobley makes this a Versatile team with size and scoring not many rosters have. Let’s hope all the dominoes fall into place.
Image Source: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
