Evan Mobley may not be the Cavaliers’ leading scorer, but the way his offensive game develops could end up shaping how far Cleveland goes.
That’s the view Mack Perry laid out for Cavs On SI, and it puts Mobley at the center of the conversation in Cleveland. The Cavs already have plenty of established offense with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. What they still need is a more reliable version of Mobley on that end - the kind of production that gives them another weapon they can trust when defenses tighten up.
There are a few different paths for that growth. Mobley could become a steadier outside shooter, do more damage from the high post, or lean on a scoring move that holds up when opponents take away Cleveland’s first option. The idea isn’t just for him to fit in; it’s for him to give the Cavaliers a layer they can’t easily replace.
His shooting is the clearest place to start. Perry pointed out that Mobley connected on 31.7% of his catch-and-shoot three-point tries last season, a number that leaves room for him to grow as a spacer alongside Cleveland’s guards. But the bigger question goes beyond open looks.
If Mobley can punish smaller defenders more consistently and make the right pass when help comes, the Cavaliers can ask for more from him when Mitchell and Harden draw extra attention. That kind of evolution would give Cleveland another way to bend a defense.
The real proving ground comes in the playoffs. That’s where opposing teams get a full series to make life difficult, and where Cleveland will need Mobley’s offense to hold up without losing the defensive versatility that makes him so valuable. It won’t be decided in the opening week, but it will be worth tracking how often the Cavs put the ball in his hands and let him initiate the action.
Around the league, Phoenix is banking on Oso Ighodaro’s versatility after signing him to a three-year, $29 million extension that begins in 2028-29. General manager Brian Gregory praised Ighodaro’s impact in a statement through Donnie Druin of Suns On SI, saying, “His combination of physical tools and basketball IQ allows our team to be more versatile on both ends of the floor,” and adding, “Oso has made significant strides since we drafted him, and we know his commitment will see him continue to develop.”
Ighodaro appeared in all 82 games last season, putting up 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 65.3%, and he started all four playoff games against the Thunder. With Mark Williams recovering from shoulder surgery, Ighodaro is expected to have a significant role alongside Khaman Maluach to open the season.
Denver’s question is different, but just as important: can the Nuggets survive without Nikola Jokic on the floor? ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne flagged that issue in her season preview, noting Denver had a plus-10.8 net rating with Jokic last season and a minus-6.5 mark without him.
Logan Struck of Nuggets On SI believes the reshaped group deserves a chance before it gets written off, especially with DeMar DeRozan bringing a proven scoring presence and Marvin Bagley III, Alpha Diallo, Cam Whitmore and others adding fresh options. The first wrinkle is Julian Strawther’s knee injury, which removes a needed shooter from the rotation.
DeRozan can create his own offense; now the challenge is surrounding him with enough spacing for coach David Adelman to make it work.
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The generational gap around him keeps getting harder to ignore. A number of notable players already in the NBA, or on the rise toward it, were not even born when James made his debut in 2003, which is the kind of detail that turns an otherwise routine season-opening note into something much bigger. And with James still adding to that ledger, the question is less about whether he has outlasted his peers than how much longer this unusual run can keep stretching the leagues timeline. [Read more 🡒]