Golden State Warriors NBA Mock Draft: Final predictions before July 29
By Tony Pesta
3. Cleveland Cavaliers select: Evan Mobley, C
The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to take whoever is leftover between Evan Mobley and Jalen Green. In this scenario, the Cavs end up with Mobley as a new building block for their ongoing rebuild.
This selection will be a breath of fresh air for Cleveland, who has drafted perimeter players in each of the last three NBA Drafts. Furthermore, it’s the first time they’ve selected in the top-three, with a chance to acquire a franchise star since 2014.
Nevertheless, Mobley isn’t the seamless fit everyone assumes he would be in Cleveland. The frontcourt is crowded with the likes of Jarrett Allen, Larry Nance Jr. and Kevin Love all battling for minutes. And, don’t forget names like Dean Wade and Taurean Prince who will compete in small-ball lineups at the four.
Even so, Mobley will find it easy to bust into the starting five if he blossoms into all he’s projected to be. He’s a modern NBA team’s dream at the center position, flashing skills as a shooter, post scorer, defender and playmaker. If all goes well, Mobley will provide an inside-out dynamic for the Cavs to build on for the future.