The Cleveland Cavaliers have a roster filled with talented young players, middling veterans and Larry Nance Jr. Heading into the 2021 NBA Draft they needed to find a foundational player who give them an identity, and they have done just that in drafting USC big man Evan Mobley.
The top of the draft went exactly as expected, with the Detroit Pistons taking Oklahoma State forward Cade Cunningham and the Houston Rockets selecting G League Ignite guard Jalen Green. While the Cavaliers surely considered players such as Jalen Suggs, Scottie Barnes and Jonathan Kuminga they have been expected for weeks to take Evan Mobley, and that is exactly what they did.
OFFICIAL: @evanmobley is #N3XT! pic.twitter.com/pfRnNkeBBL
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) July 30, 2021
What should the Cleveland Cavaliers expect from their new draft pick, Evan Mobley?
Mobley was a two-way star at USC this past season, taking a team that hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and leading them to the Elite Eight. He is a towering 7’0″ tall but his skinny frame projects him as a power forward, at least early on, but he has the long-term size to be a shot-blocking center.
Defense is where Mobley will unlock something special for the Cavaliers, as he brings nearly every possible skill to the table. He is an elite rim protector, can defend the pick-and-roll, is comfortable switching onto the perimeter and has the speed, fluidity and athleticism to stop opposing offenses wherever they are on the court, and he does it all despite rarely ever committing a foul.
On offense Mobley is unique as well, comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter. He has enough ball-handling ability to drive against slower players or in transition, with the vision and ability to make passes with both hands. If given space he can shoot comfortably, and while he isn’t a high-volume knockdown shooter yet he should develop into someone you have to guard out on the perimeter.
The Cavaliers currently have a logjam at power forward, but none of those players are the long-term solution. Kevin Love has been a mainstay for the team, but the past two seasons he has been ravaged by injuries and will very possibly be traded or waived before the season begins. Larry Nance Jr. is also a trade candidate, although he should be a great veteran mentor for Mobley while he is still around. Taurean Prince is just a salary slot, and Dean Wade is a solid role player but probably isn’t a starter even at his peak.
Mobley could step in and start right away, or the team could have him slot in off the bench as he develops as a player. There is no questions he is the long-term answer at the position, and eventually he should be able to play minutes at the 5.
Drafting Mobley does influence the rest of the offseason. They will have restricted free agency negotiations with center Jarrett Allen. Does taking Mobley mean they are less inclined to throw the bank at Allen, given the difficulties of team-building around two bigs? Can they afford to invest significant money on a center when Mobley will ideally be their long-term option inside?
The Cavaliers are stuck in a little bit of limbo, trying to decide if they are building towards a playoff push this season or taking their time continuing to build out a young core. Mobley may not be an elite impact player this season, but he is clearly their best long-term prospect immediately. The future of the Cavaliers will be built on Mobley.
Evan Mobley is an incredibly talented player, the type of prospect who goes first overall many years (and would have last season). He is an excellent pick at No. 3 for the Cavaliers and gives them a core player to build around moving forward.