Year in Review: 5 key moments that changed the Cavs in 2021

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Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images /

5 key moments that changed the Cavs in 2021 – 3. Drafting Evan Mobley

The 2021 NBA Draft was loaded with exciting your prospects, but most sources agreed that there was a consensus Top 4, with three of those players (Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley) all deserving choices with the No. 1 overall pick. The Cavs landed third in the NBA Draft Lottery, securing them a seat at the table of top prospects.

A little bit of luck and a little bit of scouting went into selecting Evan Mobley at No. 3 overall, just after Cunningham and Green, just before Jalen Suggs and Scottie Barnes. Some questioned the pick as the Cavs already had a pair of centers in Jarrett Allen and Kevin Love, but the organization was confident they had the chosen the right guy.

Mobley then came out this season and has been a revelation, one of the league’s best and most versatile big men already as a rookie. Offensively he isn’t as polished, but he has incredible touch and an improving jumper. Add in strong big-man passing and a good handle, and Mobley is a truly unique and impactful player.

He is currently the front-runner for Rookie of the Year, and while he won’t make the All-Star Game he deserves to at least be considered. Mobley would likely go first in a redraft already, and the Cavs long-term future changed dramatically because they took Mobley at No. 3.