NBA Draft: Evan Mobley can be Cavs’ offensive hub off bench

The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to have the #3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, which will commence on July 29. In all likelihood, it does appear as if the Cavaliers could very well end up with USC big Evan Mobley.

That’s based on it appearing to be likely the Houston Rockets will end up with Jalen Green, per a report/mock draft from Zach Harper of The Athletic (subscription required), who stated the Cavs “are probably locked in” on Mobley at that spot.

Harper in his report/mock did note how Cleveland is “interested” in acquiring other draft picks, and suggested how a framework for a trade, on the Collin Sexton trade rumor front, could result in Cleveland potentially landing the #19 and #21 picks from the New York Knicks in that case. He did suggest how the potential for a Darius Garland-Jalen Suggs backcourt, too, but Mobley was more so the target.

We’ll have to see on that though, and while there has been Sexton-Cavs trade rumors, Sexton is a player on the rise. So perhaps he could stick around/they evaluate the situation further.

But looking back at the Mobley-to-Cavaliers possibility, I would imagine that even with his talent level, with others involved too, that Mobley could come off the bench more so earlier on. That’s with him being thin still for a 7-footer, as he’s only 210 pounds currently.

I don’t foresee that as being a bad thing, in fairness; even with Kevin Love‘s situation/constant trade rumors/the injury element, I would still think he’ll be around at least for some of next season with Cleveland; the buyout potential could come about at some point, though.

Albeit from there, there are the likes of Larry Nance Jr. seemingly still and Dean Wade, to go with Jarrett Allen, who it seems could very well stick around/be locked up by Cleveland this offseason.

In any case, in relation to Mobley, I believe it’s realistic to foresee him being a key source of bench offense next season, and if he ends up starting more as the season progresses, okay.

Mobley can be a key offensive hub off the bench for the Cavs next season/early on.

Mobley showed plenty of low-post polish, touch as a finisher/low-post player in his lone collegiate season with USC, and he has guard-like skills with his handle and passing feel/vision.

Overall, Mobley had 16.4 points per contest in 2020-21, and although the three-point shooting potential didn’t show much with the Trojans, I do buy with his skill level/showing flashes in AAU/high school, that the stretch big stuff will come from him. I’d think we’ll see more of that as next season progresses, regardless of where he ends up.

In the Cavs’ case, where I’d expect Mobley to end up in the 2021 NBA Draft, I would admittedly think he’d begin his career as a key bench player, which KJG’s Justin Brownlow also believes should play out in that event. Mobley could appear at the 4 and 5, one would think though, and given his defensive abilities/switchability/rim protection, that’d be very intriguing.

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Albeit on the offensive end, while I would anticipate that Love/Nance would begin at the starting 4, Mobley could very well be featured a bunch as a crucial offensive hub off the bench.

He again has impressive post-up polish, really with both hands, and Cleveland could go to him in the mid-post I’d think, too. Mobley has a great handle for a 19-year-old big, and that could enable him to get to the cup throughout spurts of games, and could lead to free throws regularly for him.

Plus, his counters getting to push shots and even fadeaways after establishing position from seals could very well lead to easy deliveries to him/quality shots after passes in stretches with Darius Garland/others, such as free agency target T.J. McConnell. Mobley’s 7-foot-4 wingspan aids him as a shooter in those instances, for what it’s worth.

In addition, with Mobley being able to throw dimes to cutters, hit spray-outs to opposite corners/wings out of the mid-post, and with his timing could make a difference for movement shooters on handoffs. I’d think Evan could work well getting some big-to-big feeds into Allen/Wade/perhaps Isaiah Hartenstein at times, too, and that could happen here and there after Mobley slips as a roller.

From there, Mobley is a player that could at times even initiate after defensive rebounds, involving the transition game. With his handle, that could help open up offensive opportunities for the likes of say, Dean Wade/Dylan Windler/Sexton and others.

That element could really bring some added juice in games, and thanks to his timing/lob throwing touch, I could foresee Mobley even toss some up there to Jarrett Allen/Nance here and there in secondary transition.

Nonetheless, while I would personally expect Mobley to start his career, in the event he gets drafted by Cleveland, off the bench for a chunk of Year 1, with him needing to get stronger/others involved, I’d imagine he’d be a crucial offensive hub in his PT.

And the dude would still get a bunch of minutes, anyway, too, and would feasibly get more as the season progresses.