Prior to the season, I mentioned to friends that the key to the Cavs was the growth of Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro. The three players were top-five picks under Koby Altman who’ve experienced highs and lows during their time with Cleveland. Over the past three seasons, Garland and Okoro have been rumored in trade talks and Mobley’s development offensively felt as if it was stagnant. Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, all of them have shown improvement on both ends of the floor playing hard with their sights on making a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference.
Evan Mobley (3rd overall pick – 2021 NBA Draft)
Stats: 18.8 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, 3.0 assists per game, 1.4 blocks per game, 1.0 steals per game, 57% field goal percentage, 43% 3-point percentage, 77% free throw percentage
Mobley signed a super-max contract (five years, $224 million) in the offseason, where fans were questioning if he deserved the deal. Well, Mobley has proved them wrong in evolving as a triple threat offensively by shooting the mid-range (41% from 10 to 16 feet) and three-pointers (43% overall and 60% in the corners), posting up more and initiating the offense in transition being a playmaker to others (three assists per game + Cavs are sixth in pace as a team). He’s missed one game and playing fewer minutes which is helpful to a mobile big man. Already an elite defender, Mobley has been an anchor that has found his stride playing power forward and center when Jarrett Allen is out of the game. Mobley should earn his first all-star appearance this season.
Darius Garland (5th overall pick – 2019 NBA Draft)
Stats: 20.6 points per game, 2.6 rebounds per game, 6.4 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game, 49% field goal percentage, 43% 3-point percentage, 92% free throw percentage
Garland has returned to form after a rough year on and off the court. From shooting splits, he is having the best season of his career and playing hard on both ends. Playing in all 30 games, I see Garland has improved with his aggressiveness and finding his spots to score. He’s shooting an absurd 70 percent from 10 to 16 feet and 43 percent on corner three-pointers. The concern with Garland is playing against bigger, physical players that will harass him. Boston and Atlanta have put active, physical players against him and he’s had some problems. Hopefully, Garland can overcome it and rise as one of the top point guards in the league. I also believe Garland will make the all-star team in his second appearance.
Isaac Okoro (5th overall pick – 2020 NBA Draft)
Stats: 6.6 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, 0.7 steals per game, 49% field goal percentage, 49% three-point percentage, 71% free throw percentage.
Okoro is not an all-star, but he is a connective piece to this team, playing out of position as a small forward. After signing an extension in the offseason, Okoro focused on his game, and you can tell he worked on his shooting. He’s shooting a career-high 49 percent from three (48% from corners) and a true shooting percentage of 65%. Okoro has maintained his defense, being strong at the point of attack and improved as a help defender using his athleticism. If he can sustain his shooting and defense while becoming a better playmaker, I believe he’ll end up as a key role player to a championship team.
We must give credit to Koby Altman for locking up core players with the flexibility to trade. All three players are 25 or younger and under contract through the 2026-27 season. With the 1st and 2nd aprons restricting teams, it’s important to hit on draft picks while managing the salary cap. The Cavs are just under the first apron and will be a first-apron team when Mobley’s extension kicks in. If the Cavs make a run in the Eastern Conference and possibly make the NBA finals, I believe Mobley, Garland and Okoro will be a big reason why.
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