Nick Young’s critique of Evan Mobley landed with a little heat, but the bigger issue for the Cavaliers isn’t as simple as aggression.
Young recently wondered on Gil’s Arena when Mobley is going to “take the next step,” and then pointed to what he sees as a lack of force. “He’s not even aggressive. He got like that Bam sh*t in his head,” Young said in a clip shared by Ahn Fire Digital .
That’s the part that doesn’t quite hold up. Mobley is aggressive. The problem is that it doesn’t always show up with enough frequency.
Part of the disconnect comes from how he carries himself. Mobley has always been quiet, almost understated, and that hasn’t changed since high school. Even when he’s attacking, he doesn’t always look like a player trying to announce himself to the building.
The production, though, says he’s making real progress. In seven games, Mobley is putting up 19.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 57.6% from the field and 53.3% from three.
That three-point number is probably not a forever thing, but it does speak to the confidence he’s playing with. The post game, on the other hand, hasn’t shown the same kind of obvious jump.
There’s also a lineup conversation bubbling underneath all of this. On ESPN Cleveland, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst floated the idea that the Cavs’ best group might include Mobley at center with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and two wings.
It’s an interesting thought. More space, more responsibility as the primary big, and maybe a steadier stream of touches for Mobley.
But that setup would come with tradeoffs. If Jarrett Allen sits, Cleveland gives up some rim protection and a dependable scoring presence around the basket. And when Mobley isn’t demanding the ball or getting it enough, Allen helps keep the offense from drifting too far toward the perimeter.
So the burden is shared. Mobley has to be more forceful, and the Cavs have to make him a bigger part of what they’re doing. That’s been a challenge at times with their guards, even if Harden is usually willing to pass first and take what comes to him.
No one is asking Mobley to drop 30 and grab 15 every night. A threat of 25 and 12 would do plenty of damage.
Some nights that feels right there for him. Other nights, it leaves you wondering why he’s gone so long without being involved.
At 4-3 entering Wednesday’s rematch with the Thunder, Cleveland still has plenty of runway. It’s November.
Mobley doesn’t need a new personality. He and the Cavs just need to unlock more of his best more often.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Stole A Useful Frontcourt Addition From A Rival
Norchad Omier is heading into another NBA opportunity, and this one is coming with a different team than expected. According to NBA insider Michael Scotto, the big man changed his mind about signing a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves and now plans to join the Cavaliers on a similar deal, giving Cleveland a low-risk frontcourt addition with some pro experience already behind him.
Omier has already spent time in training camp with Minnesota and has also had NBA and G League stops, including a stint with the Clippers, so this is not a total unknown for a team looking to add depth up front. For Cleveland, it is the kind of move that can quietly matter over the long season, while for Omier it is another chance to carve out a foothold in the league and prove he belongs. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Just Reignited A Kyrie Debate Cavaliers Fans Know Well
LeBron James has a way of turning old Cavaliers debates back into fresh ones, and his latest comments did exactly that. The former Cleveland partners built one of the most memorable stretches in franchise history, pairing LeBrons all-around dominance with Kyrie Irvings shot-making on the way to the 2016 NBA championship, the high-water mark for a team that still measures itself against that title run.
Irving is now with the Dallas Mavericks, while LeBron moved on again this offseason by signing a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Even with their careers headed in different directions, their Cleveland connection remains impossible to separate from how fans judge both players, and the renewed conversation around Irvings place in NBA history is only going to keep that bond in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Mobleys Next Career Move Will Catch Cavs Fans Attention
Isaiah Mobleys next stop is taking him back to Europe, where the former Cavaliers draft pick has agreed to join Basquet Manresa in Spain, according to the club. For Cleveland fans, it is another reminder of how the organizations recent draft history continues to ripple outward, with Mobley now adding Spain to a pro career that has already included stops in Turkey and Israel.
Mobley was a second-round selection by the Cavaliers in 2022, and his path since then has been a familiar one for players trying to carve out a longer runway in the game. Around the wider basketball world, Killian Hayes has been linked to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Josh Hart has been mentioned as a possible fit for Napoli Basket down the line, and the NBA has also been dealing with questions from U.S. senators about its partnership with Rwanda. [Read more 🡒]