Over last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ best shooters were the guard duo of Darius Garland and All-NBA Second Team player Donovan Mitchell. As the Cavaliers search for a three-and-D starting wing in either trade or free agency this summer, that player or two probably will not be the absolute solution for all of Cleveland’s shooting struggles. Relying entirely on one offensive flow is what led to a disappointing postseason run.
Instead, the Cavs need to search for alternative offensive schemes that can open up the court for all of the team’s three-point threats. To stretch the floor, some observers have suggested that the Cavaliers trade Jarrett Allen, but the front office has been clear on their intentions to retain the 7-foot tall shot blocker. In this case, then, the Cavs’ best option is to build an offense to allow the star backcourt to play off-ball and get to open spots.
The playmaking responsibilities in this scheme fall upon upcoming superstar Evan Mobley. After earning a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team this season, the Cavaliers unicorn’s offensive capabilities are still to be fully realized. Placing him at the center of the offense surrounded by shooters and another big man gives him the opportunity to unlock another step in his potential.
Just take a look at this pass below.
What a pass by Evan Mobley 🤯 pic.twitter.com/sQlO6baErq
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 10, 2022
Mobley has already shown flashes of a terrific basketball IQ as a passer, finding the open man in an instant. In only two seasons, Mobley could already have short highlight reels of just his playmaking potential. Going forward, the Cavaliers could make the most of his developing skills by making him the center of their offense in the upcoming year.
In a positionless league such as the NBA, the best organizations structure their offense to maximize their scoring threats. We have seen this time and time again, especially in recent championship-caliber teams.
There are two prime examples of this, but how much does this Cavaliers team resemble those squads?
Let’s begin with the first, from a well-oiled machine of recent past.