How the Cavaliers can make Evan Mobley a playmaking hub next season

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.

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.

Example No. 1: 2014-2017 Golden State Warriors and Draymond Green

The Stephen Curry-led Golden State Warriors won their first championship in the 2014-2015 season, defeating an injured Cleveland Cavaliers team in six games (also known as The Delly Series). Though the Warriors’ dynasty continued past 2017 with their addition of all-time great Kevin Durant, the early years of the franchise’s success depended on an offense more similar to this current iteration of the Cavaliers.

In this scenario, Evan Mobley as a playmaker mimics a prime Draymond Green. Over those three seasons, Green defended the opposing team’s best player and set up a star-filled backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson for a barrage of long range daggers. In the 2016-2017 NBA season, Green averaged 10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists and earned Defensive Player of the Year.

Head Coach Steve Kerr placed Green with the ball at the top of the key with Curry and Thompson racing through off-ball screens and passing around the court to any open scorer. Mobley’s scoring ability already surpasses what Green produced that season, which could theoretically add another layer to the Cavs’ offense. If no openings appear for an open shooter, Mobley is capable of barreling into the paint or backing down a defender in the post.

While Curry and Thompson were the clear cut two best players on the team, Green was the best two-way player in that lineup. He served as the glue for a team that set the regular season record at 73 wins and only 9 losses.

Assuming that Evan Mobley can fulfill a similar role (without all the technical fouls), the Cavaliers could elevate their game plan into that of a true contender. This will require that Cleveland adds the right pieces and shooters, starting with re-signing Caris LeVert and finding a starting three.

Example No. 2: 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo

Since his rookie year, Evan Mobley has been compared to another NBA 7-foot unicorn in two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While the championship winning team also ran their offense through Jrue Holiday, the Greek Freak often took up the ball to initiate the offense. Whether Giannis played from the top of the arc or the key, his personal dominance and keen eye for the open man gave Milwaukee the versatility they needed to defeat Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns in six games after starting the series down 0-2.

Comparatively, Evan Mobley is beginning his career with more talent already in his utility belt than Giannis had in his earliest seasons. The change for Giannis came when he developed his scoring game into the mid-range. For years, Giannis’ biggest criticism was due to his lack of scoring threat from outside the restricted zone.

For Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers have already begun working toward evolving Mobley’s shooting. In order to match Giannis’ dominance, though, Mobley will surely need to build up his strength substantially.

Additionally, Giannis’ frontcourt partner has been Brook Lopez, a sharpshooter center who is always in discussions for DPOY as well. With all due respect to Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers would have to adapt the offense to atone for Allen’s nonexistent shooting abilities.

In the end, the Cavaliers will need to maximize any added shooting they acquire this offseason. Their best route to do so will be running their offense through Evan Mobley, allowing him to improve his offensive game and confidence as the leading man for the aspiring Cleveland Cavaliers.