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.
Cavs: Mobley-Allen would wreak havoc defensively
The key in a general sense, and even fairly early on, in the event Allen is eventually locked up, is how Mobley and Allen could wreak havoc defensively in that scenario. Allen, when fully healthy, is a rim protecting/shot altering presence, and with his activity, can get back to deflect lob passes/some looks to cutters, and in time with Mobley, that’d be a very difficult duo to drive against as helpers.
Mobley does need to put on weight in coming years, that’s clear, and I’m not disputing that. That’s why a good amount of next season, I would expect him to come off the bench, but one shouldn’t read too much into that. And I could turn out wrong, particularly if perhaps Nance, for example, ended up being traded at some point early on, perhaps in a trade for a shot creator as part of a deal and/or a quality backup point guard.
Circling back though, with Mobley’s fluidity/switchability to contain perimeter threats, his team defensive feel/timing to close passing lanes, leading to runouts, and his shot blocking instincts, him and Allen could be a big-time defensive duo for Cleveland. That’s with Mobley’s 7-foot-4 wingspan as a rotator/rotating rim protector in stretches at the 4, too, which I believe could be Giannis Antetokounmpo-esque.
Mobley, for further context, had 2.7 blocks per game in Pac-12 play for the USC Trojans, and had a block rate of 8.8 percent overall and 8.2 percent in Pac-12 play.
Now, again, I do get that Mobley needs to get stronger, and adding muscle is reportedly an area of emphasis for Allen this offseason. But with the instincts of those two, and with Mobley’s added rim protection and his switchability, I do believe that duo could be quite a formidable one for years to come for Cleveland on the defensive end of the floor.
Cavs: Mobley’s offensive abilities and Allen’s interior touch, with gradual progression could make this duo work well long term offensively, too, and help generate more turnovers
Granted, offensively, Allen does need to gradually progress, albeit there have been flashes as a catch-and-shoot player in the mid-range, and I think we could very well see more of that. Perhaps with his touch on the interior, and on push shots/him being a capable foul shooter for a big, there can be some pick-and-pop potential, too.
And I believe at the NBA level, with Mobley’s touch/coordination on post-ups/as a roller and with him showing fadeaways/face-up touch, he will show more as a shooter in the mid-range/on the outside fairly early on.
Additionally, with his guard-like abilities off-the-bounce, to go with his passing vision, I do think a duo with him and Allen, to go with guys such as Darius Garland and I’d think Sexton, if he’s around, or potential free agent adds, such as Reggie Bullock, Doug McDermott and/or Dylan Windler could mesh very well.
Windler, if he can be healthy, could be a key off-ball contributor, and the likes of Bullock and McDermott are knockdown catch-and-shoot players; all three are effective cutting finshers, too.
The likes of Moody/Cameron Thomas/Trey Murphy III could work via other potential 2021 NBA Draft picks, also, and if Isaac Okoro progresses further as a shooter/on-ball player, he could very well too, with the defensive end of the floor/transition abilities played into it.
So, looking onward, I could foresee a Mobley-Allen pairing being a really good one for Cleveland if the19-year-old Mobley can fill out over time, and if he’s locked up, the 23-year-old Allen could create a Twin Towers-type duo with the USC product.
Moreover, with how that tandem at the 4/5 for key stretches could work on defense, it could lead to runout opportunities often for Cavaliers perimeter players, and that could be more aggressive on defense.
That sort of thing shouldn’t be discounted, either, and wings could be on-point with contests to shooters as rotators as well.
We’ll ultimately see what plays out in the 2021 NBA Draft regarding the Cavs/Mobley, anyway, but I’d imagine many Cavs fans expect Evan to be a member of the Wine and Gold soon.