There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that Evan Mobley was among the elite of last season’s rookie class as he was a top two candidate for the Rookie of the Year award while helping the Cleveland Cavaliers find a resurgence to the playoff picture. He surpassed Cavs fans expectations, and is just getting started.
Mobley is an elite defender already being able to defend a pick-and-roll and switch onto opposing guards with ease, something not many big men his age are capable of doing.
His defense makes him stand out, but what makes him an incredibly interesting prospect is his offense, as his post-game was deep for a rookie while definitely having a foundation for an efficient three-point shot in the future.
Although, on offense he was largely used as a lob target for Darius Garland to get the ball out of the All-Star’s hands.
In his rookie campaign, Evan Mobley averaged 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with just under a block and a steal as well.
How will the rising star look next season with the Cavs’ addition of Donovan Mitchell?
It’s hard to say how Mobley will fare behind three All-Stars, as he may lose many of his touches, or he may thrive as a lob target from both Donovan Mitchell and Garland while occasionally stretching out the floor.
There are many other ways he could succeed or be held back with this roster, much of which is dependent on who they decide to rock with at the small forward position.
Most likely, he will be used heavily in pick-and-roll plays involving both of the star guards and placed in the dunkers position when not directly involved in the direct action of the pick play.
With the departure of Lauri Markkanen there should be slightly more rebounds available for Mobley next season, although these opportunities will still be limited by his defensive monster of a teammate in Jarrett Allen.
Maybe he can see a slight improvement in his assist numbers with another star to share the floor with; he is an incredibly talented passer for his size.
With extra muscle and shooting workouts, it is very difficult to place how good Evan Mobley will be because he could be anywhere from 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists per game all the way up to 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists per game without even pushing his expectations too far.
It all depends on how much stronger and how much more skilled he can be next season on whether he takes the All-Star leap or not.
I think it’s safe to expect 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as well as 2 blocks and a steal per game on top of that, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the rising star surpasses those numbers.
No matter what Evan Mobley does next season, one thing is for certain. He will do what the Cleveland Cavaliers need him to do to win games as much as possible.
He is one of the key players to this team’s success and definitely one to keep an eye on.