During the offseason, the development of Evan Mobley was one of the biggest discussions around the Cavaliers. Since his arrival in 2021, he has been one of the most intriguing players on the Cavs’ roster. He was the third pick of the 2021 draft. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green were selected before him, as the Pistons and the Rockets drafted them respectively. Mobley had a noteworthy rookie season and despite being a finalist for Rookie of the Year, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes won the award. Barnes was selected fourth in the draft.
Mobley was close to winning Rookie of the Year and in his second year, he was close to winning another award. He was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award. He earned that honor after Cleveland had a remarkable year on the defensive end in 2022-23. The Cavs had the best defensive rating in the NBA at 110.6 Mobley and his versatility on the defensive end of the floor played a big role in their success. He was in the running for DPOY along with Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez and Memphis Grizzlies’ own Jaren Jackson Jr. Jackson took home the award. Mobley did receive some recognition, as he was a member of the 2023 NBA All-Defensive Team.
This season, Mobley continues to elevate. His offensive game has picked up, especially as Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson planned to involve him more.
Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com wrote about it during the offseason and mentioned that the young big would be crucial in the Cavs’ new style of offense.
“It’s not simply adding more 3-point shot attempts. Yes, that’s part of it. The goal is to increase Mobley shots, period. Atkinson wants Mobley as a key part of the Cavs fast break and other up-tempo offenses.”
As far as defense, Mobley is still as sharp as ever. He is currently in the top 10 of the league in blocks per game. He averages 1.9. If there is a game where he is struggling on the offensive end, he still makes an impact defensively. He has been a force, as he had three blocks in the Cavs’ win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Before that, he had three blocks in the win over the Milwaukee Bucks. So far, he has had three blocks in four of the Cavs’ nine games.
With what he has done on the defensive end so far, could Mobley get back into the DPOY conversations? And to go a step further, could this be the season he wins it?
As of now, Mobley is third behind Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgreen in Defensive Player of the Year Odds. For example, when it comes to FanDuel’s odds, Wembanyama leads at -100. Holmgren is next at +290 and Mobley is at +1200. Wembanyama and Holmgren are talented bigs who are exceptional on the defensive end. But Mobley is great in his own right. If his elevation continues on both ends of the floor and the Cavs continue to play at a high level, chances are he can become the frontrunner.
The future is bright for the Cavaliers, especially when it comes to their starting power forward. And winning an award like DPOY would be the start of something special. This is especially true after being so close to two different awards in previous seasons. Mobley cannot and will not be denied from getting the recognition he deserves much longer.
The post Evan Mobley: On the Path to Defensive Player of the Year appeared first on Cleveland Sports Talk.