Each of the three Cleveland Cavaliers’ two-way signings in Isaiah Mobley, Emoni Bates and Craig Porter Jr. were significant contributors for Cleveland in their run to a Las Vegas Summer League title.
Mobley and Bates, both of whom were second-round picks by the Cavaliers each of the last two drafts, had their share of big moments. Mobley was also the MVP of the 2023 Summer League Championship, in the Cavs’ win over the Houston Rockets.
Meanwhile, the undrafted Porter helped the Cavaliers in a number of ways with his two-way expertise as well. He often was a calming presence for the Summer Wine and Golders, and was particularly impactful on defense with his ball pressure and off-ball instincts.
Of the three two-way guys for Cleveland, though, it would seem Mobley would have the most realistic shot at receiving meaningful minutes early on in 2023-24. It remains to be seen if that occurs, but the possibility could be there.
Could Isaiah Mobley get early chances with the Cavs this coming season?
Mobley had 17.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per contest in his six Summer League appearances for the Cavaliers’ Vegas squad, and tacked on 1.0 steals per game in those outings. In those games, he shot 49.3 percent overall, with a true shooting rate of 56.7 percent, and had an assist rate of 24.6 percent.
Mobley’s two-way play was impressive for Cleveland across those exhibitions in Vegas, and he capped that off with 28 points, 11 rebounds, three dimes, two steals and blocks in Cleveland’s 99-78 win over Houston. It was a nice way to cap off a great stretch from the USC product, who is set to enter his second year in the 2023-24 campaign.
Mobley played like a seasoned vet and resembled a player who had been in Summer League before, as he had in 2022, too, and he affected winning in a number of ways for the Cavaliers in that time. He had quite the showing in Vegas.
Last season, Mobley did not have many opportunities with the Cavaliers in his rookie year, as he appeared in only 12 games, in which he averaged 2.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 7.0 minutes per game. There was not much floor time for him with the Cavs in the 2022-23 season.
Mobley is again set to play next season on a two-way contract, but for potential depth minutes at the 4 or in some stretches, feasibly the 5, he could seemingly have his deal converted to a standard one, via a team-friendly contract.
He might be as athletic vertically as Damian Jones, or have his 6-foot-11 height, however, Mobley is far more offensively viable than Jones, and there have been flashes from the elder Mobley brother as a catch-and-shoot three-point shooter.
He had 21.5 points per game in G League play last season with the Cleveland Charge, and shot 35.3 percent from three on what was 3.1 attempts per game across 23 outings. Along with those splits, Mobley averaged 8.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest with the Charge last season, and was named All-NBA G League Third Team.
Isaiah Mobley isn’t close to the player on defense that Evan Mobley is, but Isaiah is offensively polished, has shown some deep shooting abilities, is a high IQ player in his own right, including as a passer, and can help rim protection somewhat.
Isaiah is the shorter of the two at 6-foot-8, but he has a 7-foot-3 wingspan, and with his offense and overall feel in mind, some early minutes at the 4 and spurts at the 5 would seem reasonable with the Cavaliers in his second year.
We’ll have to see what plays out in that regard, of course. If the chances are there, though, Isaiah Mobley could give the Cavs a different look and maybe a lift.