It’s seems increasingly likely that the Cleveland Cavaliers will end up selecting Evan Mobley with the #3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, of which is set to commence on July 29.
According to recent reports, as KJG’s Justin Brownlow noted, Cleveland is likely to be “zeroing in” on Mobley, and Jalen Green/his camp are rumored to favor the Houston Rockets as his destination over the Cavaliers, anyway.
So, although Cleveland could potentially look to select Jalen Suggs, or perhaps to a lesser extent, Jonathan Kuminga, for instance, at that spot, I’d expect Mobley to be the pick there. I wouldn’t anticipate the Cavs to move up or down at this point, either.
Now, in relation to other movement, it’s been rumored that Collin Sexton, for instance, could be potentially moved in a deal involving most notably the Golden State Warriors’ #14 pick, for one. Or while I wouldn’t be on-board with it necessarily either, a possible deal netting one or two of the New York Knicks first-rounders at #19 and/or #21 could play out.
I’d personally be strongly objected to the latter, and while the former wouldn’t be outstanding early on, the likes of Moses Moody or Josh Giddey could be intriguing targets via potential trade.
We’ll ultimately have to see, though, and I’d personally much rather the Cavaliers hold on to Sexton, and at least give him more time next season with the group, as he’s a player on the rise, and Cleveland’s by far top scorer.
Albeit there does appear to be hesitation from the Cavs regarding a contract extension, but that could have other clubs reluctant themselves; the Cavaliers could possibly end up going with a deal nearing the next deadline, conversely. Or maybe they’ll see how things play out when Sexton is set to be a restricted free agent next offseason, though.
No matter what plays out, one thing is particularly intriguing, and that’s how a potential pairing of Mobley and Jarrett Allen could be on the defensive end. Those two could really make a difference for Cleveland’s young guards in Garland and Sexton, for one, and could aid others.
A Mobley-Allen duo could be big-time for the Cavs defense.
Personally, I’d rather Mobley, with him only 210 pounds right now, start his career with the Cavs, in the event he’s their #3 pick, off the bench. I do think he’d still play a bunch this first season though, to make that clear, and would feasibly end up playing over half of games, with his share of 4 and 5 minutes.
I get that there’s already plenty of bigs, and Kevin Love will still, at least for a chunk of next season for now I’d think, have some of a role still. Perhaps he could be a deadline trade piece, and/or the two sides end up conducting a buyout at some point; that’s complicated.
From there, I would still expect Larry Nance Jr. to be a rotational factor if healthy, and Dean Wade, while he’s non-guaranteed for the next two seasons contract-wise, similarly to Nance, I believe can play legitimate jumbo 3 man minutes, and both could very well still get a fair share of 4 playing time. Let’s face it, Love is reportedly likely to have a reduced role, anyhow.
In any case, projecting onward, and as the season wears on, Mobley and Allen will likely have their share of PT, and Nance/Wade could get PT at the 3 with them, I’d think, perhaps in non-Isaac Okoro minutes.