Cleveland Cavaliers locked down a key piece for the future

The Cleveland Cavaliers secured their future by reportedly agreeing to a five-year, $224 million maximum rookie extension with forward/center Evan Mobley. This significant move complements their extension of star guard Donovan Mitchell earlier this offseason. The Cavs now have a solid core with Mobley, Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen. They can either continue with this lineup or trade to optimize their roster.

Mobley, who is a strong candidate for the Most Improved Player award next season, is expected to see more offensive involvement under new head coach Kenny Atkinson. Despite a dip in his scoring numbers last season, from 16.2 to 15.7 points per game, and attempting just 11 shots per game, Atkinson’s reputation as a developmental coach bodes well for Mobley’s growth. Mobley's impressive playoff performance, averaging 21.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game against the Boston Celtics, likely influenced the positive outlook for his future contributions.