The past couple of months have been a wild ride for the Cleveland Cavaliers. When the Boston Celtics eliminated them in the second round of the playoffs, some fans rightfully believed that Donovan Mitchell was finally on his way out of the Cavs.
However, things took an interesting turn after the team convinced him to give the Cavs project another go, agreeing to a three-year deal that will see him play some of his best years in Cleveland wine.
Another thing that got Cavs fans excited is Kenny Atkinson’s arrival. The former Brooklyn Nets head coach was a key part of the Golden State Warriors coaching staff that won the title in 2022, and he promised to bring with him a cultural shift that would naturally benefit every player on the roster.
While almost every player on the Cavs roster would benefit from these two major updates, Evan Mobley is the one who stands to gain the most with these new changes.
Analyst believes Evan Mobley can restart his Cleveland Cavaliers career with Mitchell staying, Atkinson’s arrival
Caleb Crowley of King James Gospel took notes of Kenny Atkinson’s introductory press conference. One of the key questions asked was how he would help the 23-year-old fulfill the high potential that made him the third overall pick of the 2021 draft.
Atkinson had a detailed approach on how he would help the USC alumnus develop:
With Mobley, Atkinson said he can “schematically get the ball [Mobley’s] hands more” by having the 22-year-old big take the ball up in transition, handling the pick and roll and facilitating a five-out offensive set. Atkinson believes there are creative methods to maximize Mobley’s multi-talented skillset rather than relegating him to a specific, undervalued role. He also specifically mentioned increasing Evan’s usage, a statistic in dire need to be addressed.
Mobley has shown that he can do what Atkinson asks for and more. The 6’11” big man is long but athletic and is comfortable with bringing down the ball. He can also run quickly and get into advantageous positions in the transition.
His stats last season (15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks) show that he has the potential to have an all-around game that can impact the team. Atkinson’s experience working with Steve Kerr should be beneficial in helping the young man finally realize his potential.
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