The Cleveland Cavaliers landed some lottery luck in 2021 and own the No. 3 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
This draft has some top talent, with four players in particular standing out above the rest.
Those four are Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, and Evan Mobley.
For now, it appears Mobley is locked in with the Cavaliers.
I've already accepted the Cavs will pick Evan Mobley. Here's to hoping he'll become the Chris Bosh/Anthony Davis/Giannis hybrid he's been promised to be.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) July 26, 2021
The thinking here is that the Detroit Pistons cannot pass up on Cunningham at No. 1, and that the Houston Rockets will take Green or Suggs at No. 2 overall.
This is all based on draft rumors, so things can obviously change between now and then.
Perhaps the Pistons even trade out of the pick.
But based on what we know, it does look like the Cavaliers are taking Mobley if he is on the board at No. 3 overall.
His Fit In Cleveland
Mobley is a seven-footer who would join a team already filled with plenty of size.
The team just made Jarrett Allen a restricted free agent and fans are already thinking about the possibility of an Allen-Mobley duo.
Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. remain on the roster as well, meaning the Cavaliers will have some serious length and height next season.
Comparing Mobley to the likes of Anthony Davis and Chris Bosh may be unfair to the young man.
Yet fans in Cleveland have to be excited about the idea of an athletic big joining the mix.
Mobley is capable of knocking down shots from deep and looks like a true threat on defense.
Opposing teams would have a tough time figuring out how to stop both him and Allen at the same time.
And if the Cavaliers could land a knockdown shooter or two, the offense would be a tough one to defend.
How Plans Can Change
Rumors continue to emerge that the Pistons aren’t yet positive on taking Cunningham at No. 1 overall.
Detroit’s internal meetings are still revolving around three players for the No. 1 pick on Thursday night — Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley, sources tell ESPN. Detroit isn’t fully there yet on committing to Cunningham with their first overall choice.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 26, 2021
Now there is truly no way to know if this is true, or if the Detroit front office is putting out rumors to see what trade offers may roll in.
But it is worth noting that plans can change.
Luckily, the Cavaliers still own the No. 3 overall pick in a draft with more than just two top players.
So even if Mobley is taken at No. 1 or No. 2, a top talent is there for the taking.
The real question is if the Cavaliers are going to trade up with other assets to go home with two picks in the top 10.
That would hopefully expedite this rebuilding process and allow the organization to shape a competitive roster.
Maybe Love even gets moved on draft night.
That is unlikely, but one can dream that all the potential best-case scenarios come true Thursday.
For now, landing a top player in Mobley still stands out as an overwhelming success.
Leave a Reply