Evan Mobley Has The Keys To Unlock The Cleveland Cavaliers Offense

Mobley had 160 assists last season for the Cavs. I went back and watched them all to try and figure out how the team will be using him as a playmaker this season.

Common sense says the Cleveland Cavaliers will go as far as Donovan Mitchell takes them. The Cavs are in the most superstar-driven league, and Mitchell is clearly the superstar. 

However, the other thing Mitchell can be classified as is a known commodity. If he has the best year of his career this season it wouldn’t come as a surprise, but it would be easy to picture. His greatness is already present in the minds of Cavs fans.

That’s why Evan Mobley is more important to the overall success of the Cavs this season – and for the years to come. 

What I said about Mitchell is true for Mobley on the defensive end of the floor. He’s an elite talent and has proven it already. Look no further than his third-place finish in the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year voting. If he stays healthy and reaches the 65-game threshold for awards voting, Mobley can be penciled in on an All-Defense team. 

On the offensive end, he’s an unknown. Mobley might not be any different than he has been to this point in his career. That would undoubtedly be a disappointment, but it has to be mentioned as a possibility. But what if he does take the offensive leap? What does that look like? And how does it change things moving forward for the Cavs? 

Those answers will define the season. Mobley’s growth on offense is the most important thing that can go right for the Cavs this season. If he becomes the offensive player he’s capable of being this year, the Cavs will create matchup nightmares regularly and be a team with legitimate championship aspirations. If he doesn’t, the result of the season might be pretty similar to last year, and we’ll have more questions heading into next summer.

Mobley’s offensive jump can come in several different areas. That’s one of the things that makes him special. It’s also what has made him frustrating because the potential is oozing out of him in a way that isn’t seen on the roster otherwise. 

How the team plans to use Mobley on the offensive side this year is the most fascinating story of the preseason. One of the first things head coach Kenny Atkinson said about Mobley’s development is that he can be used more as a playmaker.