Evan Mobley enters the 2026-27 season with the kind of pressure that usually follows a franchise cornerstone. For the Cavaliers, that’s exactly how he’s being treated. For Mobley himself, it’s the year that could define where this all goes next in Cleveland.
He’s been trending upward since arriving in the league in 2021, and that steady climb has made him one of the central pieces of the Cavs’ long-term plan. But now the conversation has shifted from growth to payoff.
After posting 18.2 points per game last season and hitting just 29.7 percent of his threes - the third-lowest mark of his career - the next offensive step isn’t just nice to have. It’s the whole story.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden will likely carry the scoring load again, but Cleveland needs someone else who can consistently lighten that burden. Mobley has to be that third option on a night-to-night basis.
The clearest swing skill is still the jumper. That’s what can unlock everything else for him offensively.
In 2024-25, he showed just how dangerous that piece can be, knocking down 37 percent from deep and helping the Cavaliers’ offense look much more fluid. If he can live closer to 35 percent from three and push past 20 points per game, the decision to move on from him becomes a much harder one.
His fit with Jarrett Allen matters here too. Allen is the anchor down low, and Mobley’s ability to stretch the floor gives that pairing real balance.
When Mobley spaces out, Allen gets more room to operate inside. That’s the kind of two-man setup Cleveland needs to keep working.
There’s also the physical side of the equation. Last season, when Mobley attacked the paint, there were too many moments where contact seemed to push him off his spot and force tougher looks from around 10 feet. The Cavaliers want more force from him there, on both ends.
Defense has never been the problem. Mobley won Defensive Player of the Year in 2024-25, and he has averaged nearly two blocks per game since entering the league. The challenge now is matching that defensive presence with a tougher, more reliable offensive game.
The added strength work this offseason is part of that push. Cavs fans have wanted him to bulk up for a while, and Mobley has clearly spent time addressing that. Whether it changes how he plays is what matters now.
At media day, Kolby Altman and Kenny Atkinson made it clear they believe Mobley is ready for the next jump. They pointed to the way he has responded in big moments and the edge he’s bringing into this season.
Koby Altman and Kenny Atkinson on Evan Mobley:“He was arguably our best player in the playoffs. All we’ve done was win since he’s been here.
He has a chip on his shoulder. He wants to get back to that DPOY, All Star level.
He’s gonna take a leap this year.” pic.twitter.com/pMpQi5jgIo
That chip on his shoulder feels like a major part of the story entering year six. Mobley has still never averaged 20 points per game, and with the addition of Peyton Watson for this season, the Cavaliers will look a little different.
The competition around them has also gotten stiffer in the East, especially at Mobley’s spot. Kawhi Leonard is back with the Raptors to team up with Scottie Barnes, LeBron James is in Philadelphia now, and the Knicks are bringing back most of their championship-winning roster.
So this isn’t just a pivotal year for Mobley. It’s a pivotal year for Cleveland too.
After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Cavaliers have to prove that run was real and not a one-time spike. Mobley sits at the center of that question.
And that leaves the biggest one hanging over the season: is Evan Mobley really the future of this organization, or is Cleveland eventually headed in another direction?
In Other News...
Former Cavs Champion J.R. Smith Is Suddenly Facing Serious Trouble
J.R. Smith, one of the more recognizable names from Clevelands 2016 title run, is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. The former Cavaliers guard was arrested in Hunt County, Texas, on a charge of assault causing bodily injury involving alleged family violence, a jarring development for a player who had recently turned the page into a new chapter after basketball.
Smith was booked into the Hunt County Detention Center, and no bond was listed at the time. The two-time NBA champion had recently completed his college golf career at North Carolina A&T, which made this turn even more startling for fans who remember him as part of a championship core and not as a headline like this one. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Camp Already Has Fans Talking About Mario Hezonja's New Look
Training camp is barely underway, but Mario Hezonja has already become one of the more noticeable additions around the Cavaliers. Cleveland brought in the veteran forward after his return from overseas, and the early buzz has centered on more than just his fit on the floor. With the Cavs also adding Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade with Denver, the start of camp has given the roster a different look as the team begins sorting out roles for the 2026-27 season.
Jarrett Allen was among the first to comment on Hezonjas physical transformation, which only added to the attention around the newcomer. Hezonja, for his part, has been open about the mindset that brought him back to the league, and that combination of renewed purpose and a changed body has made him an early talking point in camp. For Cleveland, it is the kind of subplot that can matter in a long preseason, especially when a new face arrives with something to prove. [Read more 🡒]
James Harden Just Made Clevelands Peyton Watson Move Look Crucial
Peyton Watsons arrival in Cleveland has already become one of the more interesting subplots of the Cavaliers offseason. The 22-year-old forward came over from Denver in the five-team sign-and-trade on Aug. 19, and his profile only got a bigger boost a day later when James Harden signed on with the Cavaliers, a move that added more weight to the organizations push to reshape the roster.
Watson was introduced by the Cavaliers on Sept. 17 after coming off a career-best season, and the expectation now is that he will have a larger role in Cleveland than he did with the Nuggets. Hardens presence matters here, not just because of the star power, but because he helped recruit Watson in the first place, making the move feel like part of a bigger plan rather than a one-off transaction. [Read more 🡒]