Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley can help Isaac Okoro’s cutting growth

I was relieved when the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t overthink things in selecting Evan Mobley #3 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.

The USC big does need to progress as a three-point shooting threat in coming years, and I’m not glossing over that, but he has shown plenty of flashes and his guard-like abilities will aid him as a pull-up threat and driver, too.

Combined with his defensive abilities, rim protection, fluidity and passing feel/vision, Mobley could be a superstar in the near future I believe. He does need to put on weight gradually in time, as he’s only 215 pounds currently, although in fairness, that’s easily correctable.

Circling back to one particular attribute we mentioned, however, Mobley’s passing vision, even with some struggles scoring, was on display in Las Vegas Summer League.

I’d expect that to be a key strength of his game shown next season and going forward too, and I’d think that should help players such as Darius Garland and Collin Sexton of course, but I could really foresee that aiding Isaac Okoro‘s game. One area in that regard comes to mind, also.

Mobley can help Okoro’s growth as a cutter for the Cavs.

It was only Summer League play, so one needs to take it with a grain of salt, even still, Mobley and Okoro seemed to show glimpses of how the two could have promising chemistry with Mobley dishing to Okoro as a cutter.

In situations where Mobley is on the perimeter or in the mid-post, with how Okoro came along as a cutter as last season progressed, in the off-ball sense on the weak side, with Mobley’s precise timing, he can feed him at times in games there.

From that point, with Okoro showing he was more comfortable finishing through contact from April-onward it appeared, I’d anticipate that’d lead to easy looks that can get him going. He did place in the 70th percentile as a cutting scorer last season, per Synergy Sports, which was noteworthy; albeit the frequency was 9.0 percent.

Okoro’s body control and touch as a cutter inside was on display on diagonal cuts, backdoor cuts and when filling lanes in transition more so as last season wore on, though. And with a big that has a legitimate handle like Mobley, even as a 7-footer, operating out of rolling situations, and out of the mid-post, a wing player as strong as Okoro, could greatly benefit.

Mobley’s 2.4 assists per game in his lone collegiate season didn’t illuminate it, but he demonstrated how he’s highly capable of hitting cutters inside, and at times as they get chemistry down, he could dish some lobs to Okoro. That could play out for Jarrett Allen as well, for what it’s worth, and/or Larry Nance Jr.

Along with how Mobley could aid Okoro’s progression as a weak side cutter in settled offense, with Mobley being a grab-and-go option, provided the Cavs give him those chances, and Okoro being a gifted transition finisher/driver, that should pay off in that realm.

Okoro’s feel/timing in regards to filling lanes in the open floor should fit like a glove with Mobley in secondary transition situations with Mobley being able to break down defenders in those scenarios with his handle, and being a threat with push shots and quick slashes to the basket. As a result, with him being a more than willing passer paired with that, Okoro could be a good runout target for him, to go with Sexton, clearly.

Okoro’s strength and body control played into him being more effective as last season wore on in those sequences, and a big with guard-like skills in Mobley could very well amplify that for Isaac.

Moreover, while I’m not discounting the likes of Garland and Ricky Rubio as passers for Okoro, it could be a boost for his cutting growth to have a rare big like Mobley feed him as well, which could open up a number of high percentage looks for him inside off-ball.

And if defenses start to anticipate those passes to Okoro more, it could aid perimeter shooters and Mobley himself as a scorer markedly.