The Cavaliers still belong to Donovan Mitchell, but Evan Mobley keeps flashing as the piece that can swing the whole thing. His defensive range already gives Cleveland a different gear, and if his offense keeps moving up, the ceiling jumps with it.
That possibility looked a little more real at the start of the 2026-27 season, especially in the win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mobley buried four of five three-pointers and logged heavy minutes at center. With Peyton Watson alongside him and Jarrett Allen finishing the game on the bench, Cleveland may have shown a look that becomes more common when the pressure rises.
Mobley is listed as a power forward, but his frame and defensive tools let him handle bigger opponents. Like Anthony Davis and similar players, he has long felt most natural at the four, where his touch around the basket and all-around skill set fit cleanly.
Still, the league is firmly in the positionless basketball era, and Mobley’s most dangerous version may come in a small-ball setup with shooters spaced around him. If he keeps hitting from deep, Cleveland can put together a playoff combination that becomes extremely difficult to manage.
None of that means Allen gets pushed out of the picture entirely. He should still be the starting center, and there will be matchups where his size matters. The real conversation is about the closing moments and the postseason.
That’s where Allen’s history becomes an issue. He has already been borderline unplayable in the playoffs at times, particularly against more physical bigs.
And when he doesn’t get touches early, he can fade from the offense. He is not an especially aggressive player, and that has shown up when the games tighten.
Mobley, by contrast, is one of the rare defenders who can legitimately guard one through five. Watson adds another layer with his physicality and his willingness to throw his body into every possession.
Cleveland may give up some size with that group, but it can answer with versatility, switchability, speed, and shooting. That’s the kind of mix that could finally help the Cavs protect big leads when opponents start making changes and bringing their closers onto the floor.
In Other News...
Peyton Watson Is Giving The Cavs Something They May Really Need
Amid the early-season chaos around the league, Peyton Watson has given Cleveland a different kind of lift in a recent overtime win, the sort that tends to matter more when games tighten and possessions get ugly. The Cavaliers have plenty of scorers they can lean on, but Watsons value showed up in the areas that dont always make the highlight reel, with his activity helping swing momentum on both ends while the team keeps sorting out its rotation.
The offense still has a bit of a project attached to it, though, and that is the piece Cleveland will keep watching as the sample grows. Watsons size and defensive energy are already giving the Cavaliers something they can build on, but the next question is whether his shot becomes reliable enough to make him more than a situational weapon as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Win Still Exposed A Frustrating Problem Mobley And Allen Haven't Fixed
The Cavaliers got the overtime win they needed against Minnesota, but the box score still pointed to a nagging problem that has followed them at times this season. Even with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen anchoring the front line, Cleveland was hurt on the defensive glass, and the Wolves extra chances kept possessions alive in a way that made the game far harder than it should have been.
For a team built to defend at a high level, the issue goes beyond two big men doing their job. Rebounding on the defensive end has to be a full-team task, with guards and wings helping close possessions before they turn into second opportunities, and this one offered another reminder that the Cavaliers still have work to do there if they want to make wins look cleaner. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Win Just Sparked An Officiating Debate Fans Will Be Talking About
The Cavaliers overtime win over the Timberwolves is already the kind of result that gets replayed, but the NBAs Last Two Minute Report added another layer to the discussion. The league identified two officiating mistakes that worked in Clevelands favor, while also backing several other calls from the final stretch, including the non-flagrant ruling on Donovan Mitchell and a foul on Jaden McDaniels.
What stood out most was how thin the margins were late, when every whistle can reshape a games finish. The report said a key call should have gone the other way on the final possession of regulation, and it also marked an overtime foul involving Mitchell and LaMelo Ball as incorrect because the contact was deemed incidental, leaving plenty for fans to debate even after the result is in the books. [Read more 🡒]