Has Evan Mobley lived up to the hype?

[JujitsuFlip]

I think it's time for the Cavs to try something other than double big lineup. I wonder what he'd look like next to an excellent PF who doesn't crowd the paint. Allen is a really good player but maybe this pairing has peaked. A PF with range could open things up for everyone and we'll find out if Mobley can protect the rim at an elite level as the starting C.

With Mobley's slender frame and mellow demeanor, it is clear he will never be a full time 5.

Although, i agree, Allen is not the correct 5 to pair him with, a lot of redundancy. He needs to play next to a dude built like Zubac/Mitch Robinson with the attitude of Draymond/Brooks, and the shooting ability of KAT. Does that player exist? Heck if i know but i do know pairing him with another skinny nice guy has not worked and they've been together for 5 seasons.

[Billl]

Love him as a player, but his "hype" was that he had the highest upside of the draft and you would just need to a wait longer on it. Doesn't look like he's going to turn out better than Cade.

[JonFromVA]

The Gobert comparisons are laughable. This question is easy to answer. Offensively, he hasn't lived up to the hype if you subscribed to the KG/Duncan comps. Defensively, he's exceeded expectations quickly. He has all defensive teams and DPOY hardware at the age of 24. But I'm also a big fan of the 2021 class, so I'm biased.

To me he's still "like" KG, but a poor man's version. He moves so similarly, I always think of KG when I watch Mobley. He simply does not have that level of shooting touch (KG is one of the best midrange shooters ever), and his handles aren't quite as good (relative to the league/era).

He still fits the mold of a versatile, lanky playmaking big with DPOY-level defense. I don't think he has much in common with Duncan.

Do you guys realize neither TD nor KG never topped a TS% of 59% in their career?

Evan was never going to develop as a guy who took a high volume of mid-range face up J's in the modern NBA. That he's making 37% of his 3's for the past 3 seasons on increasing volume is one of the things that needs to continue to happen and develop. And then in the post he's improved but still greatly limited by his frame and his handle which are both still improving year to year.

The "dog" factor might even happen if Evan would consistently commit to elbowing opponents in the chest to create space and draw fouls like his peers do.

Defensively there's not much to complain about and that's where his mobility and lack of bulk really shines.

Finally. we need to be careful not to compare Mobley to TD or KG at their peak. Evan isn't there yet and he's never come close to leading the Cavs in field goal attempts. Neither did Bosh or KG once they were on teams with better players. Even TD had more seasons of less than 20ppg than he did of 20 or more.

[jbk1234]

I think it's time for the Cavs to try something other than double big lineup. I wonder what he'd look like next to an excellent PF who doesn't crowd the paint. Allen is a really good player but maybe this pairing has peaked. A PF with range could open things up for everyone and we'll find out if Mobley can protect the rim at an elite level as the starting C.

Jarrett Allen has missed several games this year with a broken finger. Moreover, the way our rotations work, Mobley is the 5 when Allen rests. I'm not convinced that Mobley can be a full time 5 unless he's got a prime Serge Ibaka type at the 4. If anything, I think the Cavs need a physical backup 5 who can make the officials decide how much pushing they want to let go when he steps on the floor.

[Slimjimzv]

The season is early. They have a great coach and a ton of talent. I doubt anyone will look forward to facing them in the playoffs.

[Reeko]

About as good as people thought he would be. Not every top 3 pick becomes a 30/10/10 superstar

The guys at the Ringer were setting some pretty lofty expectations for him, they were talking about him being the next Duncan or Garnett. I don't think he's been that good.

[cupcakesnake]

The Gobert comparisons are laughable. This question is easy to answer. Offensively, he hasn't lived up to the hype if you subscribed to the KG/Duncan comps. Defensively, he's exceeded expectations quickly. He has all defensive teams and DPOY hardware at the age of 24. But I'm also a big fan of the 2021 class, so I'm biased.

To me he's still "like" KG, but a poor man's version. He moves so similarly, I always think of KG when I watch Mobley. He simply does not have that level of shooting touch (KG is one of the best midrange shooters ever), and his handles aren't quite as good (relative to the league/era).

He still fits the mold of a versatile, lanky playmaking big with DPOY-level defense. I don't think he has much in common with Duncan.

Do you guys realize neither TD nor KG never topped a TS% of 59% in their career?

Evan was never going to develop as a guy who took a high volume of mid-range face up J's in the modern NBA. That he's making 37% of his 3's for the past 3 seasons on increasing volume is one of the things that needs to continue to happen and develop. And then in the post he's improved but still greatly limited by his frame and his handle which are both still improving year to year.

The "dog" factor might even happen if Evan would consistently commit to elbowing opponents in the chest to create space and draw fouls like his peers do.

Defensively there's not much to complain about and that's where his mobility and lack of bulk really shines.

Finally. we need to be careful not to compare Mobley to TD or KG at their peak. Evan isn't there yet and he's never come close to leading the Cavs in field goal attempts. Neither did Bosh or KG once they were on teams with better players. Even TD had more seasons of less than 20ppg than he did of 20 or more.

You can't use true shooting % as a flat comparison across different eras. The league average ts% over Mobley's career has been around 57-58%. The league average around KG and Duncan's young days was 51%. Mobley's relative efficiency isn't at a higher level.

We don't need to compare Mobley to KG/TD's prime, we can use their seasons at the same age. By their age 24 seasons, both those bigs were firmly in the MVP conversation.

[Kingdibs19]

Bosh wasnt a real go to player though. 2nd, 3rd string. Toronto had a deep team with a bunch of offensive contributors

Top 3 ppg for the Raps in 2019

Bosh: 24.0
Bargnani: 17.2
Jarrett Jack: 11.4

So Bosh was 2nd and 3rd string to who?

I swear some of y’all like talking about ball a lot more then actually watching it. Just typing nonsense matter of factly.

[Syd-TK3]

The way the nba media talks about him I'd say he's not even close to living up to it

[Raps in 4]

Was the hype that he would become a superstar? If that's the case, then no, he didn't. He's become a very good player, though.

He gives you elite defense and good complimentary scoring on low volume. He struggles as a creator though and needs to be a third option on offense.

[NYPiston]

Put it this way, prior to the draft if you said by the end of year 4 Mobley would have DPOY, 2 1st team all Defense and a 2nd team All NBA. And to be clear, it would most likely have been 3 1st team all defense if he played 15 more games his 3rd season. And on top of all of that, he would finish 10th in MVP voting.

I think most people would take that and run if their team had the 3rd pick in the draft. And even from just Mobley's specific hype pre draft. If you gave me all of those individual defensive awards, to go with him shooting 37% from 3 and in this year averaging 4 assists a game.

Ya I dont see how that isnt living up to the hype. Its not like Mobley was viewed as like a Wemby. There is a reason he went 3rd overall and not 1st. He was basically talked up as a truly elite level defender, with pick and pop potential and a very underrated passer for a young big guy.

I feel like the pre draft hype on Mobley was one of the more accurate hype levels for a player.

This was exactly what he was projected to be coming out of the draft. Elite defensively but a clear #2/3 option offensively, anybody who watched Mobley in college would know that he was never going to be a go to #1 offensive option but that he was going to be a gamechanger defensively. People who were thinking that he was the next Tim Duncan didn't really watch Mobley closely enough or projected skills and a killer mentality offensively that he never showed, still a hell of a player to have on your team as the perfect Robin to your Batman.

[Snakebites]

Yes.

I don't think NBA front offices thought he'd be a number one option level guy offensively. If they did he'd have been a consensus top pick.

[realball]

He's somewhat lived up to his draft hype. He was being compared to Chris Bosh, and he may not be as good as Bosh as an offensive player, but he is an All-NBA defender. He definitely has not lived up to the hype from his rookie year, where people saying he's the next Tim Duncan.

[tsherkin]

Bosh wasnt a real go to player though. 2nd, 3rd string. Toronto had a deep team with a bunch of offensive contributors

Top 3 ppg for the Raps in 2019

Bosh: 24.0
Bargnani: 17.2
Jarrett Jack: 11.4

So Bosh was 2nd and 3rd string to who?

I swear some of y’all talking about ball a lot more then actually watching it. Just typing nonsense matter of factly.

I think he's speaking more to the idea that Bosh wasn't a good fit as a focal offensive player. He was our primary scoring option, but given his performance in the playoffs and such, he wasn't a contention-level guy (regardless of team performance, because that's too much related to the broader roster).

[Iwasawitness]

Was the hype that he would become a superstar? If that's the case, then no, he didn't. He's become a very good player, though.

He gives you elite defense and good complimentary scoring on low volume. He struggles as a creator though and needs to be a third option on offense.

I think as a second option, Mobley is perfectly fine.

What really helps his case is his passing, which is very good for a big man. He truly is the perfect number two to have on your team. A lot of people think he needed to be the top dog offensively to take this team to the next level but to be honest, I never saw it that way.

[axeman23]

To me he's still "like" KG, but a poor man's version. He moves so similarly, I always think of KG when I watch Mobley. He simply does not have that level of shooting touch (KG is one of the best midrange shooters ever), and his handles aren't quite as good (relative to the league/era).

He still fits the mold of a versatile, lanky playmaking big with DPOY-level defense. I don't think he has much in common with Duncan.

Do you guys realize neither TD nor KG never topped a TS% of 59% in their career?

Evan was never going to develop as a guy who took a high volume of mid-range face up J's in the modern NBA. That he's making 37% of his 3's for the past 3 seasons on increasing volume is one of the things that needs to continue to happen and develop. And then in the post he's improved but still greatly limited by his frame and his handle which are both still improving year to year.

The "dog" factor might even happen if Evan would consistently commit to elbowing opponents in the chest to create space and draw fouls like his peers do.

Defensively there's not much to complain about and that's where his mobility and lack of bulk really shines.

Finally. we need to be careful not to compare Mobley to TD or KG at their peak. Evan isn't there yet and he's never come close to leading the Cavs in field goal attempts. Neither did Bosh or KG once they were on teams with better players. Even TD had more seasons of less than 20ppg than he did of 20 or more.

You can't use true shooting % as a flat comparison across different eras. The league average ts% over Mobley's career has been around 57-58%. The league average around KG and Duncan's young days was 51%. Mobley's relative efficiency isn't at a higher level.

We don't need to compare Mobley to KG/TD's prime, we can use their seasons at the same age. By their age 24 seasons, both those bigs were firmly in the MVP conversation.

Put prime Donovan Mitchell in place of post-prime Terell Brandon, and KG wouldn't have had the free shooting rein he did in his "24" season.

[2Leftfeet]

I think the Cav's would play better with Barnes on their team over Mobley.They would play a faster pace.Mobleys still a good player and getting him third overall will never be considered a bad choice.

[cupcakesnake]

Do you guys realize neither TD nor KG never topped a TS% of 59% in their career?

Evan was never going to develop as a guy who took a high volume of mid-range face up J's in the modern NBA. That he's making 37% of his 3's for the past 3 seasons on increasing volume is one of the things that needs to continue to happen and develop. And then in the post he's improved but still greatly limited by his frame and his handle which are both still improving year to year.

The "dog" factor might even happen if Evan would consistently commit to elbowing opponents in the chest to create space and draw fouls like his peers do.

Defensively there's not much to complain about and that's where his mobility and lack of bulk really shines.

Finally. we need to be careful not to compare Mobley to TD or KG at their peak. Evan isn't there yet and he's never come close to leading the Cavs in field goal attempts. Neither did Bosh or KG once they were on teams with better players. Even TD had more seasons of less than 20ppg than he did of 20 or more.

You can't use true shooting % as a flat comparison across different eras. The league average ts% over Mobley's career has been around 57-58%. The league average around KG and Duncan's young days was 51%. Mobley's relative efficiency isn't at a higher level.

We don't need to compare Mobley to KG/TD's prime, we can use their seasons at the same age. By their age 24 seasons, both those bigs were firmly in the MVP conversation.

Put prime Donovan Mitchell in place of post-prime Terell Brandon, and KG wouldn't have had the free shooting rein he did in his "24" season.

Aggressive downhill scorers were the best players to put next to KG. He just didn't get to play with particularly high-level versions of this. 34-year-old Sam Cassell, 25-year-old Billups, injured Brandon. Then it was guys like Troy Hudson, Ricky Davis, Mike James, Randy Foye.

KG's illegal screening, playmaking, and knockdown shooting made him the perfect playmate for a guard who liked to attack off the dribble and pull up.

I think Mobley has a bit of this, but he's not a spacer in the same way. His driving/playmaking game is pretty strong though.

[Duke4life831]

Put it this way, prior to the draft if you said by the end of year 4 Mobley would have DPOY, 2 1st team all Defense and a 2nd team All NBA. And to be clear, it would most likely have been 3 1st team all defense if he played 15 more games his 3rd season. And on top of all of that, he would finish 10th in MVP voting.

I think most people would take that and run if their team had the 3rd pick in the draft. And even from just Mobley's specific hype pre draft. If you gave me all of those individual defensive awards, to go with him shooting 37% from 3 and in this year averaging 4 assists a game.

Ya I dont see how that isnt living up to the hype. Its not like Mobley was viewed as like a Wemby. There is a reason he went 3rd overall and not 1st. He was basically talked up as a truly elite level defender, with pick and pop potential and a very underrated passer for a young big guy.

I feel like the pre draft hype on Mobley was one of the more accurate hype levels for a player.

This was exactly what he was projected to be coming out of the draft. Elite defensively but a clear #2/3 option offensively, anybody who watched Mobley in college would know that he was never going to be a go to #1 offensive option but that he was going to be a gamechanger defensively. People who were thinking that he was the next Tim Duncan didn't really watch Mobley closely enough or projected skills and a killer mentality offensively that he never showed, still a hell of a player to have on your team as the perfect Robin to your Batman.

Yup. And people who think his hype was to be the next Duncan, my question would be, why did he go 3rd in the draft? If GM’s thought he was going to be the next Duncan, there would’ve been a bidding war to jump to #1 in the draft, then #2 once he didn’t go #1. The next Duncan would never drop to #3 in the draft.

I think Mobley was one of the safer and easier guys to predict. Zero red flags, his strengths and weaknesses were very easy to see. Again an elite defender from basically day 1 and on offense he showed legit flashes of being a versatile big, but not some dominant #1 option. And ya he’s a very efficient 18-19ppg scorer shooting 37% from 3 and dishing out 4 assists a game.

[JujitsuFlip]

I think the Cav's would play better with Barnes on their team over Mobley.They would play a faster pace.Mobleys still a good player and getting him third overall will never be considered a bad choice.

Mobley's rookie season (before the Mitchell trade) Cavs were 25th in pace and the Raptors 27th.

Their sophomore season; Cavs dead last, Raptors 25th.

3rd year; Cavs were 24th and Raptors took a huge leap to 12th in pace.

4th year (Kenny's 1st season as Cavs head coach); Cavs were 10th and the Raptors were 9th.

This season only a quarter of the way over; Cavs are 7th and Raptors 16th.

I don't think your hypothesis really holds water. Barnes is an awful fit with Garland and Mitchell, 2 dudes who love having the ball in their hands.