I was enjoying a wonderful fall afternoon yesterday. The sun was out, there was a crisp smell in the air, and the temperature was perfect for this time of year. Unfortunately, when I started scrolling through my Twitter timeline yesterday around 7 PM, my heart skipped a beat.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 3, 2022
When it comes to injuries, this Cleveland Cavaliers team has been pretty unlucky recently. After roaring to the top of the Eastern Conference last year, they were bitten hard by the injury bug in the latter stretch of the season. On top of that, we already know that Ricky Rubio will not be available until about midway through the season.
So, I think most Cavalier fans will understand that just reading the tweet above about Evan Mobley expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a right ankle sprain had me worried. Per a report from Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, this happened from Mobley stepping on Robin Lopez’s foot during a workout.
The biggest knock on Evan Mobley coming out of USC was his slim frame, and lack of muscle. So after last season, where he missed 13 games, this is not good news. With that being said, it’s better to have it happen now, rather than during a playoff push.
Additionally, on the plus side, while this was unlucky for him, it is apparent that Mobley worked on getting stronger this offseason, and he has noticeably added muscle. Hopefully he is fine for the regular season, and can be healthy when the games count. He is seemingly likely to be available for Cleveland’s regular season opener at the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 19, to that point.
On top of that, the Cavaliers will get a chance to experiment with some different lineups, and see what young players might be able to fill in for Mobley if this were to happen in the regular season. Like I said earlier, Mobley’s injury is not good in any fashion, but when the NBA gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
So, here’s a couple players to keep an eye on during the preseason in Mobley’s absence.
No. 1: Isaiah Mobley
For those of you that don’t follow the Cavaliers as closely in the offseason, there is another Mobley in Cleveland for the 2022-2023 season. Isaiah Mobley, Evan’s older brother, was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers. Isaiah is set to be on a two-way deal this season.
Both Mobley’s played together for one year at USC, before Evan decided to go pro after his freshman season.
So what can we expect from the second Mobley? Well, he may not be quite as elite as Evan, but he’s a very versatile and athletic 6’10” forward/center. He can do a bit of everything for you on the court.
His mid-range game is excellent for someone of his size, and he does have some explosive ability. On top of that, there’s reason to believe he can become a very good shooter in the NBA. He shot 36% from three in college and still has a lot of room to improve.
When Mobley gets on the floor this preseason, the Cavs are going to ask him to do a bit of everything. He’s most comfortable spotting up in the corner, but can also attack the basket, and is very effective in the pick-and-pop.
On the defensive end, he will have to buy into J.B. Bickerstaff’s system. Isaiah wasn’t a great defender in college, but at 6’10” he wasn’t a slouch, either. Plus, he played a bit of point-forward in college, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cavs experiment with it as well.
No one is expecting Isaiah to be the next NBA superstar, but during his brother’s absence he can really make an impact on the court, and prove to the coaching staff that he should get at least a a bit of minutes once the regular season begins. He is again, for reference, a two-way player.
No. 2: Lamar Stevens
I don’t know if there’s any Cavalier on the roster that feeds off the emotions of the game quite like Lamar Stevens. When he got minutes last season, he made the most of them. After going undrafted in 2020 out of Penn State and originally being a two-way player, he really earned his spot on the Cavaliers’ roster last year.
He averaged over six points per game, and made his presence felt on offense, defense, and especially on loose balls. On top of that, he’s an athletic, and aggressive on-ball defender.
For most teams, Stevens would be a wing player or small forward. I expect him to be used in that role this year, and he is reportedly in the mix for the starting 3 spot, among a bunch of others, but he could also be used as a big in some lineups.
Personally, I don’t think Stevens is realistically in contention to start on the wing this season, but he can take advantage of Mobley’s missed time by showing the coaching staff and front office that he can bump and grind with some of the big guys in the NBA. While Dean Wade is the more prototypical power forward, he’s likely going to be played on the wing in the preseason to help him acclimate to it, if he does potentially become the starter.
Stevens’ greatest asset is the energy he brings off the bench. The second he comes into the game, you can see the mood of the team change. In the next couple of weeks be sure to look out for Stevens and his rebounding and defending. If there’s two traits that Bickerstaff loves, it’s rebounding and defending.
If Stevens can improve his on-ball defense from last season, Bickerstaff will almost have to carve out a role for the former undrafted Nittany Lion.
Where is the Love?
On most teams, when the power forward has to miss time, obviously the second team or backup power forward will take his spot. I don’t think it’s going to be that simple for the Cavaliers and their roster. Kevin Love was a huge asset for the Cavaliers last season, and he will remain a huge asset.
However, in Mobley’s absence, he’s not a guy I would pay close attention to, also because we’re discussing the preseason in this sense. Now, Love is going to get his minutes, because he’s still a very good NBA player. And even while it is preseason, he does need to have some minutes to get a rhythm.
But, Love just turned 34, and he has had injuries in the past, so I expect the Cavalier training staff to be cautious with him. If this were last season, he would absolutely be a guy to keep an eye on. Nonetheless, as a veteran leader on the team, this is going to be Year 15 for him. Love is going to get his minutes as long as he’s on the roster. He has to, just in preseason, it’s not a big deal for that.
Overall, I’m still terrified about the sprained ankle that Evan Mobley picked up. The worst thing that can happen to a young big man is injuries. However, as far as I’ve seen he should be back shortly. Granted, the Cavaliers have four preseason games before opening night on Oct. 19, and maybe he can appear in a couple of games.
Anyhow, hopefully Isaiah Mobley and Stevens can impress the coaches enough to get a spot in the rotation, or at least Stevens in that case. If so, this Cavs team could become even more dangerous.