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Cavs Questions: What Evan Mobley Needs to Prove in 2026-27

The $50.1 million forward's defense, playmaking and jump shot are the storylines to watch in year five.

5 questions
By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk · Monday, October 5

Evan Mobley heads into his fifth season already extended through 2029-30, with last season's 117.0 offensive rating and 111.3 defensive rating showing why Cleveland locked him up. The numbers that still need fixing are shooting ones — a 29.7 percent clip from three and 60.6 percent from the line.

Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers
Evan Mobley. Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What is Mobley's role on this Cavaliers team?

Mobley starts at power forward next to Jarrett Allen, the frontcourt pairing that defined last season's 52-win defense. He logged 31.9 minutes a night, posted a 111.3 defensive rating and a 13.5 percent rebound rate, and his 16.8 percent assist rate shows Kenny Atkinson still uses him as a hub, not just a rim protector.

Does his jump shot hold up?

Not yet. Mobley shot 29.7 percent on 3.2 three-point attempts a game last season and just 60.6 percent from the free-throw line, numbers that lag his 54.6 percent mark on two-point shots. A 59.6 true shooting percentage says he's efficient close to the rim, less so the farther he strays from it.

What did the advanced numbers say about his season?

Cleveland outscored opponents by 5.7 points per 100 possessions with Mobley on the floor, built on a 117.0 offensive rating and that same 111.3 mark on defense. His 22.1 percent usage was a career workload, and he still turned the ball over just 1.9 times a night carrying that much of the offense.

Which lineup got the most out of him?

Pair him with Mitchell, Allen, Wade and Tyson and the Cavaliers outscored teams by 15.4 points per 100 possessions last season, an offensive rating of 115.4 against a 100 defensive mark over 80 minutes. Swap in Hunter and Garland for Allen and Wade, and that same group cratered to a minus-14.7 net rating over 89 minutes.

Is he healthy and under contract heading into camp?

Mobley isn't on the injury report entering camp. He's signed through 2029-30, with his salary climbing from $50.1 million this year to $61.2 million in the final season, a long-term, max-level bet Cleveland already locked in before this season even started.

The verdictMobley doesn't need to become a floor-spacer to matter; he needs to keep running the offense from the elbow and holding that 111.3 defensive rating while Allen anchors the rim. The best five-man lineup on the roster last season ran straight through him alongside Mitchell, Allen, Wade and Tyson.
What is Evan Mobley's role on the Cavaliers?

He starts at power forward alongside Jarrett Allen, serving as a defensive anchor and offensive hub who averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season.

Is Evan Mobley a good three-point shooter?

Not yet — he shot 29.7 percent on 3.2 three-point attempts a game last season, well below his 54.6 percent mark on two-point shots.

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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