The Cleveland Cavaliers made a no-brainer selection in the 2021 NBA Draft by them going with USC big Evan Mobley #3 overall.
There was a lot of speculation leading into it involving what the Cavaliers would do with their pick and many thought they would trade it.
However, selecting Mobley was the best case scenario for the team. They got an incredible player in Mobley and someone that they can begin to build their team around. It looks as if all of the pieces could be in place for the Cavaliers to turn the page and begin a new chapter as a team that is no longer rebuilding.
If Mobley can come out from the jump and be the player that he is projected to be, the Cavaliers are easily a playoff-contending team this coming season.
He is already appearing to come into the league as a complete player with everything the Cavs could wish for in a big man outside of needing a little bit of work on his three-point shot.
Mobley has already drawn comparisons to NBA legends like Chris Bosh and Anthony Davis. He also has been compared to Phoenix Suns’ big man Deandre Ayton, to some extent.
If he can become any of these players, it would be an incredible draft pick for the Cavaliers. Time will only tell how this pick will be seen in the future.
But, for the time being, Cavaliers fans should be ecstatic and looking forward to seeing Mobley suit up at the beginning of the season.
With that in mind, there are three major takeaways from this Cavs pick.
The first has to do with his two-way ability.
Takeaway #1 from the Cavs’ Mobley pick: Two-way ability
One of Evan Mobley’s biggest strengths is his two-way ability. Mobley has very little if any holes in his game coming into the league.
He not only has a legitimate post presence on the offensive end, but also has a smooth jumper.
While his jump shot is not quite to the point where he is an adequate three-point shooter, he is still a threat on pick-and-pops. His offensive game has already drawn early comparisons to Chris Bosh, too, as was noted.
Mobley’s defensive game may be even stronger than his offensive one, though.
He is an elite rim protector. His 7-foot-4 wingspan allows him to block almost anything that comes into the paint. Mobley went on to average 2.9 blocks per game during his time with the USC Trojans.
However, unlike traditional bigs, Mobley is athletic enough to guard perimeter players if he is targeted in a pick-and-roll.
His defensive game has already drawn early comparisons to Anthony Davis, to echo the prior sentiment. Of course, Mobley at 210 pounds does need to fill out, but if he does in time, which he should, he’ll be even more impactful on defense.
And if he is able to come anywhere close to these expectations, Mobley will be a Hall of Famer and someone who can lead the Cavaliers out of their eternal rebuild and into the promised land.
There are few things that Mobley cannot do and he will be able to get it done on both ends for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Takeaway #2 from the Cavs’ Mobley pick: Stretch big qualities
Evan Mobley will be an offensive force for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Outside of Collin Sexton, the Cavs do not really have a certified scorer on the roster.
Mobley would be able to carry the offense in multiple ways. One of those ways is being a stretch big.
With Jarrett Allen on the roster, the Cavs can not afford to put anyone else on the floor that can not shoot well.
Luckily, they have a prospect standing at 7-foot with a jump shot in the #3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Mobley, as previously mentioned, would be able to keep defenses on their toes with a capable pick-and-pop game, at least in the mid-range game and some from three. Along with this, he is not too far off from being a respectable enough three-point shooter, and with his touch in other areas, that should come.
With so few holes in his game, Mobley will be able to focus plenty of his time on his three-point shot and it is something that could be potentially fixed shortly after he enters the league.
During his college career, Mobley converted twelve of his forty three-point attempts.
This works out to 30 percent which is not the worst from a big man. But, with the three-point line being moved back in the NBA, it is something the Cavs will want to work with him on.
Takeaway #3 from the Cavs’ Mobley pick: Cleveland finally has their franchise centerpiece
With Evan Mobley, the Cleveland Cavaliers have their franchise centerpiece. He has big star potential written all over him.
Mobley is a player that can do it all and has the potential to be a future Hall of Famer. There is no reason that the Cavaliers should not be able to build around him and at the very least be playoff contenders.
This is a player who has a floor of Deandre Ayton and has the potential to be the best big man in the league one day.
With the Cavaliers already having quite a few pieces in place already, it is great to see the roster finally coming together. Albeit with this selection, they arguably have obtained the best player to wear their jersey since LeBron James left in 2018.
Although they still may have a year or two left in the lottery, the light is at the end of the tunnel and that light very well may be Evan Mobley.
Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers should be ecstatic about this pick and should be counting down the days until he suits up for the Wine and Gold.
With him, they are getting a big who could soon do it all on both ends of the floor, space the floor, and be the face of their franchise for years to come.
The ball is now in the court of general manager Koby Altman and the rest of the Cavs front office to put a team around him that can help him develop and win games.