Of Cavs 2-ways, Isaiah Mobley has greater chance for Wine and Gold success

Recently, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed big Isaiah Mobley and guard/wing RJ Nembhard Jr. to two-way deals. Mobley signed his deal near when Ochai Agbaji signed his rookie contract on Saturday, per the Cavs, and Nembhard’s deal was announced on Sunday, per the team.

In Mobley’s case, he was the 49th overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, one of four selections for the Cavaliers on June 23. Agbaji was the 14th pick then, and two other draft-and-stash selections in Khalifa Diop and Luke Travers were taken by Cleveland at #39 and #56.

Mobley’s pick was acquired in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in exchange for cash considerations and the rights to forward Sasha Vezenkov, who was the 57th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Nembhard, meanwhile, was a two-way player for the Cavaliers last season, with most of his time with the Cavaliers G League affiliate, the Cleveland (formerly Canton) Charge. Nembhard was an undrafted signing after not being selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.

So, in short, the Cavaliers have filled both of their two-way spots for next season with Mobley and Nembhard. Of those two guys, from my perspective, Mobley likely has more of a case to have potential success with the Cavaliers.

I could be wrong, but Mobley seems to have a greater chance for success with the Cavs in the near future than Nembhard.

Mobley likely won’t be receiving much of his share of meaningful minutes regularly next season with the Cavaliers. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, the latter to some extent, will be playing the lion’s share of 5 man minutes, and recent veteran’s minimum contract signing Robin Lopez should be playable depth for Cleveland. Lopez won’t play every night, but he’ll have value as a reserve big.

I also wouldn’t expect Mobley to play much at the 4, as an aside, with his brother in Evan getting his time there, Kevin Love and/or others.

I could foresee the 6-foot-10 Isaiah Mobley receiving some minutes here and there with the Cavs if injuries occur over the long, grueling season, and he’ll get some non-meaningful minutes.

That being said, in comparison to Nembhard, at least in my estimation, I’d imagine Mobley has a greater chance to have some of a real role down the road with the Cavaliers past the G League.

Nembhard had 24.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per contest in 14 games with the Charge last season, and I’m not discounting that. In four years in college at TCU, he came on in his last two seasons, and had 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a junior and 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior.

I get the Cavs could be seeing some wing qualities there, for playable depth with the Wine and Gold for stretches, seemingly. But Nembhard was not of a factor from three at TCU, and shot 32.1 percent from there on 5.2 attempts per outing in G League play last season.

He could have potential as a rotational shot creator for Cleveland, and showed continued growth signs in that realm with the Charge as a rookie predominantly two-way guy. He could maybe help make some plays for other guys on slot drives at times if the given the chances, theoretically, too.

However, I question whether the opportunities could come for the 6-foot-4 Nembhard, as I wouldn’t frankly expect him to factor in at all at the 1 with the Cavaliers, and with Collin Sexton, if he’s back, Ochai Agbaji and Isaac Okoro, I don’t see Nembhard having much if at all of a chance for Cavs minutes. To some degree, Ricky Rubio should be involved in that regard, also; we’ll have to see what plays out involving Caris LeVert down the road, that is.

Perhaps I’m wrong, and Nembhard could make an impression if meaningful minutes for him come with the Cavaliers next season at times. I just have my doubts on that, and/or looking onward.

Granted, Mobley, who had 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists as more of a featured player at USC in his junior season, does still need more developmental time to potentially be a contributor in a rotational sense with the Cavs.

I acknowledge that, but as far as bigs go, he, like his brother, could be a secondary playmaking presence as a big with real vision in legit minutes, and Isaiah has the makings of an impact defender as a rotational rim protector/shot alterer.

And lastly, after showing flashes as a sophomore in that area when he was playing with Evan, Isaiah hit 35.2 percent of his then-3.8 three-point attempts with USC as a junior. And to me, at least in training camp/practices, Mobley could benefit immensely from being around Kevin Love as a catch-and-shoot player and/or potential pick-and-pop big, perhaps for some minutes in 2023-24.

I get that the vast majority of their minutes will be with the Charge next season, and Nembhard and Mobley can play in a max of 50 games with the Cavaliers next season as two-way guys.

I do think that of the two, though, that Mobley has a greater chance to be a contributor in the near future with the Cavaliers, as perhaps a rotational big, stretch 5 presence and impact defender for stretches, also with his brother at times, for what it’s worth.