Cavs’ Evan Mobley not winning ROY hurts, but still had stellar Year 1

From very early on this season, it was apparent that Evan Mobley was a home run pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers at #3 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Mobley still has some offensive work to do as a three-point shooting threat, and he needs to get stronger in coming years. The handle is solid for a big, but it could be better looking onward.

Generally, though, Mobley had a terrific rookie campaign, and his touch, post-up capabilities, fadeaway prowess and off-ball feel on offense popped throughout the season. Defensively, too, how effective he was, for a rookie, in particular, was so impressive.

Overall, Mobley had15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocks per contest, in an average of 33.8 minutes per outing. He was one of the key reasons why this season, the Cavaliers doubled their win total from 22 to 44 victories, and from a consistency standpoint for the season, it seemed that Mobley was very likely to win the Rookie of the Year award.

He was the ROY favorite for the totality of the season it appeared, with the year all together, in mind.

That’s not what played out, though, as on Saturday, the NBA announced that the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes won the Rookie of the Year. Barnes had 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals per contest, and led all rookies in minutes. As Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com pointed out, Barnes also was “third in points and rebounds” and was “fifth in assists, steals and blocks.”

Fedor from there noted how Barnes had better advanced stats in relation to metrics such as Win Shares, Box Plus-Minus and RAPTOR. Mobley, by comparison in traditional splits, was fifth in points, first in rebounds, first in blocks, 10th in steals and 11th in assists.

Barnes’ case was largely based on the Raptors’ second half push, whereas Cleveland slid, especially post-All-Star break, and Barnes, like Mobley, has had a significant two-way impact for his team this season.

It still doesn’t take away from Mobley’s outstanding rookie campaign, though, and it’s great to know looking onward that the Cavs have a potential superstar that is invaluable to their team, and is a 20-year-old 7-footer that will only get better.

Mobley not winning the ROY hurts, but it doesn’t take anything away from his stellar Year 1.

Mobley I thought, and I’m sure many thought, was the overwhelming favorite leading into it to win the Rookie of the Year, however, things didn’t shake out that way. He was still atop the Rookie Ladder at its conclusion, and had been at #1 there for most of the season, as our own Justin Brownlow continually mentioned.

Unfortunately for the USC product, it didn’t play out that way, and the Cavaliers’ rough close to the season seemingly was the crucial reason, combined with Toronto’s strong close, for Barnes taking the honor.

That said, Barnes winning by just 15 voting points over Mobley (who again finished second) was the closest margin since 2002-03, as Fedor expressed, when the current voting system began.

Still, no matter what transpired, while I of course give Barnes his props, and he’s a hell of a young player as well, I thought Mobley should’ve been rewarded for his consistency throughout much of the season. And coupled with that, with how Cleveland had only and 22 and 19 wins the previous two seasons, I thought his impact was a bit more meaningful, considering the situation.

Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen had breakout and All-Star years, but Mobley for a rook, was truly invaluable for Cleveland.

He didn’t win the ROY; that doesn’t take anything away from his stellar season, though. I can’t wait to see what Evan does in Year 2.