Cavs/Rox Mobley on the move

[nykballa2k4]

Cavs trade Evan Mobley, Max Strus, Dennis Schröder to the Rockets for Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet, and Steven Adams

Rationale for Cavs: Extend the roster, with the new additions, this would go a long way to balance the team, especially if it seems that they are out on PW and Kuminga.

Allen/Adams
Smith Jr/Mario
Thompson/Tyson
Spida/Merrill
Harden/FVV

Matches up much better in the east. Adams basically cures what ails them in the worst way (having a strong center who can muscle up against Mitch and Embiid). Thompson as an elite on ball defender compensates for Spida and Harden as much as anyone can.

Rationale for the Rockets:
get a player who will cover the holes in the roster. Sengun and ole man Durant really could use the elite rim protection and switch ability of Mobley. I also believe he is a better match up against the class of the west (Wemby, Chet)

Sengun/(Nick Richards?)/Capela
Mobley/Eason
Durant/Tate
Sheppard/Bogdanovic
Smart/Schroder


Sengun/Mobley should be an interesting combo similar to Jokic/Gordon

[jbk1234]

It would be very difficult for the Cavs to retain Amen after his rookie contract is up which is a major obstacle here. I wish I was higher on J. Smith than I am.

From the Rockets perspective, they'd rather have FVV than Strus and Schroder. They still need a starting-caliber PG. Schroder could go to a third team. It really comes down to whether they're in on Sengun as a core piece, and I don't buy that they are. They reportedly told everyone in June that Amen was untouchable. I presently don't have him as a max player, but he could certainly get a rookie max next summer from another team if the Rockets are not prepared to offer it to him.

[jayjaysee]

I expect a lot of really strong takes in this thread.

But I can’t see Houston trading Amen for Mobley. And would understand Cleveland asking for Amen for Mobley.

[nykballa2k4]

It would be very difficult for the Cavs to retain Amen after his rookie contract is up which is a major obstacle here. I wish I was higher on J. Smith than I am.

From the Rockets perspective, they'd rather have FVV than Strus and Schroder. They still need a starting-caliber PG. Schroder could go to a third team. It really comes down to whether they're in on Sengun as a core piece, and I don't buy that they are. They reportedly told everyone in June that Amen was untouchable. I presently don't have him as a max player, but he could certainly get a rookie max next summer from another team if the Rockets are not prepared to offer it to him.

Listen, I just want to see Sengun and Mobley on the same team. IDC if that's Houston or the Cavs. Just think it's too nice of a duo.

If there was a way to flip it and have them on the Cavs, i co-sign that as well.

[LarsV8]

Hell no.

Mobley is an albatross.

[jbk1234]

It would be very difficult for the Cavs to retain Amen after his rookie contract is up which is a major obstacle here. I wish I was higher on J. Smith than I am.

From the Rockets perspective, they'd rather have FVV than Strus and Schroder. They still need a starting-caliber PG. Schroder could go to a third team. It really comes down to whether they're in on Sengun as a core piece, and I don't buy that they are. They reportedly told everyone in June that Amen was untouchable. I presently don't have him as a max player, but he could certainly get a rookie max next summer from another team if the Rockets are not prepared to offer it to him.

Listen, I just want to see Sengun and Mobley on the same team. IDC if that's Houston or the Cavs. Just think it's too nice of a duo.

If there was a way to flip it and have them on the Cavs, i co-sign that as well.

There is not a way to flip them.

[jayjaysee]

It would be very difficult for the Cavs to retain Amen after his rookie contract is up which is a major obstacle here. I wish I was higher on J. Smith than I am.

From the Rockets perspective, they'd rather have FVV than Strus and Schroder. They still need a starting-caliber PG. Schroder could go to a third team. It really comes down to whether they're in on Sengun as a core piece, and I don't buy that they are. They reportedly told everyone in June that Amen was untouchable. I presently don't have him as a max player, but he could certainly get a rookie max next summer from another team if the Rockets are not prepared to offer it to him.

Listen, I just want to see Sengun and Mobley on the same team. IDC if that's Houston or the Cavs. Just think it's too nice of a duo.

If there was a way to flip it and have them on the Cavs, i co-sign that as well.

I like the Sengun/Mobley pairing as well.

I don’t think it works in Cleveland with Mitchell/Harden.
You need really strong defense behind that..

KD+Jabari For Mobley+Strus+vet min seems interesting to me for Cleveland and hoping KD still has two elite season left... But it’ll still be hated. need something more there.

Allen/Jabari/KD/Harden/Mitchell seems to work to me. Tyson playing starter minutes…

[HornetJail]

atrocious for Cleveland, and I don't really think I'm much higher than the average view of Mobley

[axeman23]

It would be very difficult for the Cavs to retain Amen after his rookie contract is up which is a major obstacle here. I wish I was higher on J. Smith than I am.

From the Rockets perspective, they'd rather have FVV than Strus and Schroder. They still need a starting-caliber PG. Schroder could go to a third team. It really comes down to whether they're in on Sengun as a core piece, and I don't buy that they are. They reportedly told everyone in June that Amen was untouchable. I presently don't have him as a max player, but he could certainly get a rookie max next summer from another team if the Rockets are not prepared to offer it to him.

Listen, I just want to see Sengun and Mobley on the same team. IDC if that's Houston or the Cavs. Just think it's too nice of a duo.

If there was a way to flip it and have them on the Cavs, i co-sign that as well.

I like the Sengun/Mobley pairing as well.

I don’t think it works in Cleveland with Mitchell/Harden.
You need really strong defense behind that..

KD+Jabari For Mobley+Strus+vet min seems interesting to me for Cleveland and hoping KD still has two elite season left... But it’ll still be hated. need something more there.

Allen/Jabari/KD/Harden/Mitchell seems to work to me. Tyson playing starter minutes…

That team is GROSS to me! What are we making? A retirement home? This shortens contention FURTHER, WHILE lowering our ceiling. I would IMMEDIATELY pivot to another team!

[jbk1234]

Listen, I just want to see Sengun and Mobley on the same team. IDC if that's Houston or the Cavs. Just think it's too nice of a duo.

If there was a way to flip it and have them on the Cavs, i co-sign that as well.

I like the Sengun/Mobley pairing as well.

I don’t think it works in Cleveland with Mitchell/Harden.
You need really strong defense behind that..

KD+Jabari For Mobley+Strus+vet min seems interesting to me for Cleveland and hoping KD still has two elite season left... But it’ll still be hated. need something more there.

Allen/Jabari/KD/Harden/Mitchell seems to work to me. Tyson playing starter minutes…

That team is GROSS to me! What are we making? A retirement home? This shortens contention FURTHER, WHILE lowering our ceiling. I would IMMEDIATELY pivot to another team!

Altman used up his ill-advised win-now move already. He's not going to be permitted to trade a 25-year old Mobley for a 38-year old Durant. That'll get him walked out of building by security.

[jayjaysee]

Listen, I just want to see Sengun and Mobley on the same team. IDC if that's Houston or the Cavs. Just think it's too nice of a duo.

If there was a way to flip it and have them on the Cavs, i co-sign that as well.

I like the Sengun/Mobley pairing as well.

I don’t think it works in Cleveland with Mitchell/Harden.
You need really strong defense behind that..

KD+Jabari For Mobley+Strus+vet min seems interesting to me for Cleveland and hoping KD still has two elite season left... But it’ll still be hated. need something more there.

Allen/Jabari/KD/Harden/Mitchell seems to work to me. Tyson playing starter minutes…

That team is GROSS to me! What are we making? A retirement home? This shortens contention FURTHER, WHILE lowering our ceiling. I would IMMEDIATELY pivot to another team!

I mean you already have Harden, don’t hold that against the idea. Harden is really the problem in all of these “make Cleveland better ideas” imo.. you need elite defensive bigs to make up for the backcourt, but if that backcourt doesn’t play well on offense then the elite defensive bigs can’t save you.

But.. besides the retirement home comment.

I don’t see it as a lower ceiling at all, but I don’t see Mobley becoming the two way superstar some do. So I understand it won’t be well received. I see him as a really great defensive player that offers enough offense. If you think he’s going to keep developing his offensive game (which Cleveland probably does given the Giannis rumors) then this doesn’t work at all.

The 2026-2027 team would be better, which might actually make them good enough to win a title. And if KD sticks around and lasts another season, then the 2027-2028 team would likely be better and an actual contender. After that? Yeah, you’re better with Mobley over Jabari obviously.

But if you have another banner, nothing else matters.

[davidv2001]

The Rockets front office is very high on Amen Thompson, so I doubt they would have interest in trading him, Jabari and VanVleet for Mobley. It also leaves them with Dennis Schroder as their best point guard, which is a problem.

Harden would need to be involved instead of Schroder, and that’s difficult to make work from a cap and apron perspective.

[Xman]

Mobley would be perfect next to Wemby.

SA sends Fox and three firsts for Mobley?

[mcfly1204]

Mobley would be perfect next to Wemby.

SA sends Fox and three firsts for Mobley?

That's not a serious proposal. Cleveland gets the pleasure of paying Fox the rest of his contract, where it would make no sense to resign Harden, meaning they dealt Garland for a Harden rental? Cleveland also has no starting PF after this deal, when they already were lacking a competent backup PF.

[jbk1234]

Mobley would be perfect next to Wemby.

SA sends Fox and three firsts for Mobley?

That's not a serious proposal. Cleveland gets the pleasure of paying Fox the rest of his contract, where it would make no sense to resign Harden, meaning they dealt Garland for a Harden rental? Cleveland also has no starting PF after this deal, when they already were lacking a competent backup PF.

The Garland trade is what it is and more thought should've been given to the idea of Harden as a sunken cost after the Knicks series given our cap situation, but that ship has sailed IMO. I think even Harden realizes his end is near and the Cavs need a wing with size which is why he's been so patient.

As far as the Spurs propsal there's absolutely no reason for the Cavs to consider it. No reason was given why they would. That's not an accident.

[Kiss of Death]

The Rockets would not trade Amen for Mobley straight up if their contracts were exactly the same.

The Rockets are not trading Amen and they are certainly not interested in taking on Mobley’s albatross contract.

[nykballa2k4]

The Rockets would not trade Amen for Mobley straight up if their contracts were exactly the same.

The Rockets are not trading Amen and they are certainly not interested in taking on Mobley’s albatross contract.

That's a wild take. Both Thompsons are really talented in some ways, but really have not put it together on offense.

I would sooner buy an argument that Rockets need to add MORE to obtain DPOY Mobley before entertaining a take that Amen is the more useful player, contracts aside...

[LarsV8]

Lol no, Amen is a better player than Mobley.

[hugepatsfan]

I don't like the FVV for Schroder/Strus inclusion. HOU needs a PG, CLE needs depth. I think that's a negative swap on both sides.

Amen/Smith Jr./Adams for Mobley is a concept worth discussing IMO. Personally, I think Mobley is overrated and not the cornerstone player he's billed as but I also think Smith Jr. is kind of a JAG, Adams is whatever at this stage and I think Amen is due to be a terrible contract because I just don't think he's offensively viable. But if you liked the HOUs guys a lot and were REALLY down on Mobley I can see not wanting to do that either.

[meekrab]

Seems really bad for Cleveland, Mitchell and Harden probably ask for trades immediately after Shams breaks this story.