Cavs: Identifying the team’s most likely award winner

Cavs: Identifying the team’s most likely award winner – No. 2: Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley has an incredible collection of NBA skills all packaged in a talented, athletic, tall frame. He can handle the ball, make passing reads and shoot from outside, but also has the size to rebound and score inside. Defensively he should be able to defend anywhere on the court, although there is sure to be a learning curve upon entering the league.

This elite combination of skills and talent should combine to give Mobley a strong shot at winning the Rookie of the Year award. There is stiff competition headed his way, as players such as Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs will almost certainly average more points per game than Mobley.

Where Mobley can catch them is in the other categories. He should be able to hit a decent benchmark in assists given his passing ability, and likewise playing inside should net him rebounds. He averaged 2.9 blocks per game in college, and while that is likely too high of an expectation, he should easily average at least one per game in the NBA.

The other factor in Mobley’s favor is that most of the top rookies are on teams as bad or worse than Cleveland, which eliminates any “winning” edge those players would receive. If Mobley shows he can be a solid two-way big early in the season, that could line him up to win Rookie of the Year by season’s end.