For Cleveland, the conversation about the 2026-27 Cavaliers can’t stop at Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is still the spark and the finisher, but if you’re trying to identify the player who could shape the team’s ceiling most, the answer points to No. 4: Evan Mobley.
Mobley already has the kind of defensive impact that changes how the Cavs operate. Jarrett Allen sets the tone at the start of games, but Mobley is the one who creates the most chaos. His 2024-25 DPOY award backed up what Cleveland has seen in his fourth NBA season: a big man who can protect the rim, slide out to the perimeter and defend just about anywhere on the floor.
That versatility is what makes him so valuable. There isn’t a position he really struggles to handle, and that ability gives Cleveland a true defensive Swiss army knife. When Mobley and Allen trade time at center, the whole group becomes more switchable and a little tougher to attack with mismatches.
The best way to appreciate Mobley is to watch him for a full stretch, not just a highlight package. He’s constantly getting to the right spots, shutting down what his matchup wants to do and using those long arms to jump passing lanes and come away with steals.
He didn’t make All-NBA defense in 2025-26, but there’s reason to expect him back there next season. With Peyton Watson now beside him, Mobley should have more freedom to gamble and create even more disruption.
Then there’s the offensive side, where his outside shooting can tilt games. When Mobley is making threes, Cleveland becomes a much tougher team to beat because it adds another layer teams still don’t fully account for.
The numbers back up how often he’s been part of winning nights. In his five-year career, Mobley has scored 20 or more points in 103 games for Cleveland, and the Cavs are 72-31 in those contests. He’s also helped the team go 6-3 when he scores 30 or more.
That’s why the next step matters so much. Cleveland would benefit from a more aggressive Mobley, one who reaches the 30-point club more often. The bigger goal is a full season of him averaging 20 points, with a target of 5+ threes a night at 34% or better.
In Other News...
Cavaliers May Have Rushed A Backup Center Decision
The Cavaliers settled on Thomas Bryant as their backup center behind Jarrett Allen for the coming season, a choice that fits both the roster and the wallet. With the team operating under tight financial constraints, Cleveland weighed its options and went with the big man who offered strong per-minute production last season rather than chase a pricier or more specialized alternative.
Bryants return also means the Cavs passed on other free-agent centers who would have brought different looks, including Kelly Olynyk, Kevin Love and Duop Reath. It is the kind of move that can look straightforward in July, but for a team trying to balance depth, fit and money, the backup center spot could still end up carrying more weight than it seems on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Made Their Evan Mobley Bet Impossible To Ignore
The Cavaliers latest frontcourt move says plenty about where they think their long-term ceiling really sits. By adding Peyton Watson and locking in James Harden on a three-year extension, Cleveland has kept the roster in motion while still making it clear the front office is not in a hurry to break up the core it already has in place.
According to Brian Windhorst, the Cavs had chances to chase bigger names like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaylen Brown, but instead passed and stayed committed to Evan Mobley. That choice only sharpens the spotlight on Mobley, who has already shown what he can do with a season that featured 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, and it leaves Cleveland betting that his next leap is worth more than any blockbuster shortcut. [Read more 🡒]
Evan Mobley Now Carries The Pressure Of Clevelands Biggest Bet
The Cavaliers have made their direction unmistakable this offseason, reshaping the roster around Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell as they chase a higher ceiling in the East. With the addition of James Harden, Cleveland has added another layer of creation to a core that now asks more of Mobley than ever, not just as a defender and finisher, but as a player expected to grow into the kind of frontcourt centerpiece the franchise has long envisioned.
That expectation comes with real weight because Mobley has already drawn lofty comparisons since going fourth overall, with his game often measured against bigs such as Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo. Cleveland is betting that a breakout season can turn all that promise into production, while Hardens playmaking could help unlock some of it, but the biggest question for the Cavs is whether Mobley can stay on the floor and turn potential into the sort of impact that changes the teams trajectory. [Read more 🡒]