Evan Mobley has always been the swing piece in Cleveland. Since the Cavaliers took him in 2021, that has been the line hanging over his name, and for good reason. He has already become one of the league’s top defenders, earned an All-Star nod and All-NBA recognition in 2025, and picked up Defensive Player of the Year along the way.
Still, there’s a clear reason people around the league keep waiting for more. The Cavs made him a max contract player, and last season his offense was all over the place.
At times it was hard to watch. He did close the year well, then carried that into a strong playoff run, but that version of Mobley needs to show up far more often.
The biggest step forward starts with the jumper.
For Mobley to make the offensive leap Cleveland wants, he has to become a reliable three-point shooter. In 2025, it looked like he was heading there. He hit 37 percent from deep on three attempts per game, and he was taking those shots with real confidence - a noticeable shift from his first three seasons.
Then came last season, and the progress stalled badly. Mobley dipped below 30 percent from three on the same volume, and his mechanics looked off.
A lot of his attempts came up short, with a shot that looked more like a line drive than a smooth jumper. The arc disappeared, and so did the fluidity.
The playoff version of Mobley, though, reminded everyone why the ceiling is so high. In Game 5 against the Raptors, he drilled a pair of huge threes to help keep Cleveland alive.
He followed that with more big-shot confidence in Game 6, including a strong drive to the basket to tie the game. Against the Pistons, he showed the full package as both a playmaker and a finisher at the rim.
That’s the frustrating part and the exciting part all at once: the offensive tools are there. The challenge is making them show up with the same confidence and aggression every night, not just when the lights are brightest. Mobley has been working on that shooting touch all summer, and if it carries into live action, it changes the ceiling for the Cavaliers in a major way.
In Other News...
Cavs Are Bringing Back A Familiar Look Fans Will Debate
The Cavaliers are reaching back into their recent past for a look fans already know well. Cleveland announced that its 2026-27 City Edition uniforms will revive the 2018-19 Earned Edition jerseys, a set that only appeared a handful of times that season but still made enough of an impression to earn a return trip. It is a familiar move for a franchise that has seen its uniform history become part of the conversation every time a new design cycle rolls around.
For some fans, the decision is sure to land as a nostalgic win, while others were likely hoping for something fresh, especially with a design tied to The Land apparently passing by. The jerseys are expected to show up about six times during the season, giving Cleveland a limited but noticeable throwback run and leaving the bigger debate for how the look fits with the teams next chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Kenny Atkinson Just Sent A Clear Message About What Cavs Value
At a Basketball Without Borders camp in Istanbul, Kenny Atkinson used Sam Merrill as the kind of example young players should study if they want to stick in the league. The Cavaliers coach pointed to Merrill as a model role player, highlighting how Cleveland values the steady, less flashy work that can keep a team organized and competitive.
Merrill has built his reputation on shooting and a defensive role, and Cleveland doubled down on that profile by signing him to a four-year contract in July 2025. Atkinsons broader message to the camp was just as clear: the Cavaliers want players who help in the margins, especially through defense and rebounding, even when they are not the ones dominating the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Are Suddenly In The Mix For A Veteran Contender Boost
Bruce Brown has emerged as a name worth watching for Cleveland as the Cavaliers continue to look for veteran help on the wing. The free agent market has already seen Jonathan Kuminga land with Minnesota on a two-year deal that includes a player option, ending a Lakers pursuit and reshuffling a few of the options still available to teams looking for immediate depth and experience.
Brown is now sitting in the middle of that conversation, with the Lakers, Heat and Cavaliers all known to have interest. For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious: a proven contender piece who can fit into a playoff-minded rotation, with the final decision likely coming down to the kind of contract Brown can secure and which team is willing to meet it. [Read more 🡒]