Evan Mobley comes in at No. 32 on Bleacher Report’s latest NBA player ranking, giving the Cavaliers big man a spot just ahead of Minnesota Timberwolves point guard LaMelo Ball and just behind Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves.
For Cleveland, the number only tells part of the story. Head coach Kenny Atkinson intends to use Mobley like Kevin Garnett this season, a comparison that has followed the young big man for a while.
The catch, as the source material points out, is that Garnett-level usage comes with Garnett-level fire. Mobley still has to bring more of that edge.
The concern is that he can drift through games instead of leaving a consistent mark on both ends. His attention to detail, physical toughness and assertiveness are all areas that need to take a step forward this season.
Mobley’s production last year was strong: 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while shooting 54.6% from the field, 29.7% from 3-point range and 60.6% at the line. He also helped push the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018, though Cleveland fell to the New York Knicks in four games and Mobley was outplayed by Karl-Anthony Towns.
The pressure on Mobley only grows from there. Cleveland wasn’t interested in sending him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was traded to the Miami Heat, and the Cavaliers also passed on a deal involving Jaylen Brown, who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers then signed Dean Wade and Cavaliers icon LeBron James.
That leaves Mobley in a central spot for a team with obvious star power around him. The Cavaliers will start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Mobley and Jarrett Allen next season. Mitchell and Harden are both described as future Hall of Famers and elite scorers, but the source makes clear that Cleveland’s title hopes hinge on Mobley becoming the team’s best player because of his two-way upside.
Cleveland opens the season against LeBron and the 76ers in Philadelphia, a game the source describes as an electric atmosphere. Mobley, who has been with the Cavaliers since 2021, enters the year with career averages of 16.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. He also won the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year award.
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