Tag: Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley thrives for Cavaliers, hopes to make a real run at NBA Finals

Evan Mobley is playing like the big dog the Cavaliers need him to be if they want to make a serious run at the Eastern Conference championship in the NBA.

The current USC men’s basketball team might not be doing anything special, but Trojans are continuing to take the NBA by storm. The latest impressive performance came from former USC standout and current Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley. In a recent 116-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets, Mobley scored a career-high 41 points. He also added 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and a steal. Cleveland has gotten off to an excellent start this season, raising hopes in Ohio that the franchise can return to the NBA Finals. It won’t be easy, but the Cavs might have a puncher’s chance. They won’t be favored in a series against the Boston Celtics, but maybe they can at least win a few rounds in the playoffs before meeting the defending champions.

If Mobley keeps playing the way he did against Charlotte, the Cavs will have a higher ceiling. The 41-point game versus the Hornets was exactly the type of performance Cleveland envisioned when it drafted Mobley with the third overall pick out of USC in 2021. Mobley has quietly been one of the league’s better big men over the past 3+ seasons, averaging 15 or more points and eight or more rebounds in each year of his NBA career to date.

One of the highest-rated recruits to ever sign with the Trojans, Mobley lived up to the tremendous expectations in his lone season on campus. In 2020-2021, he averaged 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, helping lead USC to its only Elite Eight appearance of the past two decades.

Unfortunately, Mobley’s lone season of college basketball came during the COVID year, so USC fans were never able to watch him play at Galen Center in person. However, they can surely take satisfaction in watching him tear it up for a Cavaliers team that currently holds the best record in the NBA.

Projecting the U.S. men’s basketball roster for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles

Anthony Edwards called next.

Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Bryan Kalbrosky.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are in the rearview mirror and to no surprise, the United States once again earned a gold medal in basketball.

Led by a trio of NBA veterans, the U.S. men’s basketball roster was thrilling. Basketball fans were delighted to see LeBron James play with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant at the same time and the results were incredible.

Now that the Olympics will leave France and the United States will become the next host nation, the focus will shift to what the roster could look like in 2028.

It is an impossible question to answer because so much of this depends on health, interest, coaching, development, and various other circumstances we can’t predict.

But based on what we know so far, factoring in age and relationships with the USA Basketball, here is our best guess as of right now:

GUARDS

Anthony Edwards

Devin Booker

Tyrese Haliburton

Donovan Mitchell

Tyrese Maxey

FORWARDS

Jayson Tatum

Paolo Banchero

Scottie Barnes

Cooper Flagg

BIGS

Bam Adebayo

Chet Holmgren

Evan Mobley

Noah Lyles denies beef with Anthony Edwards

Photos by MARTIN BERNETTI Damien MEYER / AFP

U.S. track and field sprinter Noah Lyles caused some more controversy this weekend:

“Two of the biggest stars from the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics were Noah Lyles and Anthony Edwards.

Lyles and Edwards both became first-time Olympic gold medalists this summer. Before testing positive for COVID-19 and withdrawing from the Olympics this year, Lyles won a gold medal in the 100 meter for track and field. Edwards was a standout performer on the U.S. men’s basketball roster.

Both gold medalists have signed endorsement deals with the shoe company adidas. Recent reporting suggests that there is potentially animosity between the two, but Lyles is attempting to squash those growing rumors.”

You can read more here.

Shootaround

— 5 things we learned about the NBA (Victor Wembanyama’s rise is truly inevitable) at the Paris Olympics

— Tyrese Haliburton had the most perfect post after winning a gold medal despite limited playing time

— Hoops fans thought A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo’s polite handshake was so unsubtle amid dating rumors

— An earthquake interrupted ESPN’s NBA Today show but Malika Andrews handled it like a pro

Cavaliers and Evan Mobley agree on massive contract extension

Evan Mobley is getting paid.

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward/center Evan Mobley has agreed to a five-year, $224 million deal. His Wasserman Basketball representatives Joe Smith and Thad Foucher informed Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN about the deal.

In the 2023-24 NBA season with Cleveland, Mobley ended up playing in 50 games. He averaged 15.7 points per game to go along with 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks. In addition to those averages, Mobley shot 57.9 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent on limited three-point attempts.

Mobley was the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft out of USC. He was an All-Rookie First Team selection in 2022 and an All-NBA Defensive First Team selection in 2023.

It has been a productive summer for the Cavaliers, who not only have inked Mobley to this max contract extension, but also hired Kenny Atkinson to replace J.B. Bickerstaff as the team’s head coach. They also signed Donovan Mitchell to his own three-year, $150.3 million maximum contract extension, keeping together the core of a team that has gone to back-to-back playoffs and has won 99 games over the past two years.

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Evan Mobley likely to get max contract with Cavs

Evan Mobley has lived up to the advance billing in Cleveland.

Former USC Trojan and top five NBA draft pick Evan Mobley is likely to be locked in with the Cleveland Cavs for the long haul this summer.

At the 43:41 mark in the newest episode of his Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst speculated the Cavs are “gonna extend Mobley probably at the max, probably in very, very early July.”

Mobley is eligible to sign an extension this summer, a year out from his restricted free agency in 2025.

Mobley, who was a finalist for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the 2022-23 season, is coming off his best season in his young career at 23 years old. Mobley averaged 21.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 block per game while shooting 62.7 percent from the field.

“Eventually, the Cavs knew Mobley would evolve into a full-time center — and they got a glimpse of the possibilities at various points this season, including the final eight playoff games. Even with the possibility of him getting pushed around by bigger, burlier centers, that positional switch allows more offensive freedom. If Mobley is, indeed, the most important player, something various members of the organization have boasted, isn’t it time to unshackle him and let him prove it?”, wrote NBA reporter Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

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Two USC basketball stars get their close-up in new movie this June

We look forward to learning more about Evan Mobley and Onyeka Okongwu in an upcoming June film.

The Spoils: Selling the Future of American Basketball is a full length documentary film that probes the centrality of money in America’s basketball industry. The film is the product of 10 years of up-close access to America’s prominent AAU program, the Compton Magic, and CEO Etop Udo-Ema, who has placed more than 35 players in the NBA. This film will premiere globally on June 13, 2024 on JOLT. It heavily features NBA talent including former USC basketball stars Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Onyeka Okongwu (Atlanta Hawks).

Additionally, the film includes expert analysis and insight from top basketball insiders and executives, including Jay Bilas, Sonny Vaccaro and Howard Beck.

The Spoils removes the veil and identifies the considerable weight of corporate influence to create an accurate look at the basketball landscape as it actually exists, obliterating the idea of ‘amateurism’ at every level of the sport. The film identifies new incentives that drive America’s basketball business in today’s ‘NIL’ era.

We are all going to be interested in watching this film and learning more about Evan Mobley and Onyeka Okongwu.

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Interview with ‘The Spoils’ director Mike Nicoll, part one

Trojans Wire talks to the director of an upcoming film which features Evan Mobley and Onyeka Okongwu.

The Spoils: Selling the Future of American Basketball, is set for release on June 13, 2024, on jolt.film/watch/the-spoils. The documentary film is directed by Mike Nicoll. The USC alumnus sat down with us for a full interview about his upcoming movie, which features former USC basketball stars Evan Mobley (of the Cleveland Cavaliers) and Onyeka Okongwu (of the Atlanta Hawks).

Trojans Wire: How did you get started in the sports film industry?

Mike Nicoll: My start in the sports film world was really just born from having something to say. Having traveled through the American basketball system for the first 20 years of my life as a player, that experience made a huge impression on the man I ultimately became. I think that’s the catalyst for most filmmakers I know… feeling like, “I have to make this film” or “I have to tell this story.”

After I graduated from USC’s Film School, I was drawn back to the basketball world because I felt like I had something meaningful to say about the system and how it operates.

Netflix acquired my first film, ‘At All Costs,’ and that kinda made me ‘the basketball film’ guy…so more and more opportunities in that lane started to present themselves.

Trojans Wire: How was it working with former USC Trojans Onyeka Okongwu and Evan Mobley?

Mike Nicoll: Evan and Onyeka are great dudes, really humble guys. I’ve known them both since they were about 12 or 13, when they entered the Compton Magic program.

The thing that stands out to me about both of them is how focused they were from the beginning. They’re really about the basketball, which I love and respect. They had a plan, and to watch them execute on those goals was inspiring to see. I’m so happy for all the success they’ve had.

For more information, visit TheSpoilsMovie.com.

On Twitter: @TheSpoilsFilm

On Instagram: @TheSpoilsFilm

Hashtag: #TheSpoilsMovie

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Report: Thunder made several attempts to trade up to draft Evan Mobley in 2021

Report: Thunder made several attempts to trade up to draft Evan Mobley in 2021.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, The Athletic’s Shams Charania revealed an interesting detail about Evan Mobley related to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder had the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NBA draft after getting unlucky in the lottery. They fell to the sixth slot despite entering with the fourth-best lottery odds.

The Thunder selected Josh Giddey with the No. 6 pick, but OKC attempted to move up, according to The Athletic.

The Thunder made multiple offers to the Cavaliers for the No. 3 spot. Cleveland refused to move and instead selected Mobley with the third pick.

“Interestingly, Mobley’s representation, Wasserman, cautioned the Cavs prior to the 2021 draft not to select Mobley, league sources said. It is a common draft strategy among agents in an effort to get players to certain teams — in this instance, Oklahoma City. The Thunder made multiple offers for the Cavs’ No. 3 pick in the draft that year, league sources said. But the Cavs selected Mobley anyway, and the relationship has remained healthy and positive.”

Cade Cunningham went to the Detroit Pistons with the No. 1 pick and Jalen Green went to the Houston Rockets with the No. 2 pick.

This shouldn’t be a shocker though. Heading into the 2021 NBA draft, the Thunder were rumored to be infatuated with Mobley, who admitted in the predraft process his favorite team was OKC.

The attempts failed as the Thunder selected Giddey. It all worked out for OKC though, as it drafted Chet Holmgren — someone with a similar profile but better — with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA draft,

Even though the Thunder have Holmgren, a frontcourt pairing with Mobley would have given them arguably the best defensive duo in the league. It’s an intriguing idea, but the Cavaliers continue to be fans of the 22-year-old.

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Evan Mobley and the Cavs get an NBA education from the Celtics

Evan Mobley is soaking up basketball knowledge against the Boston Celtics.

Former USC Trojan basketball star Evan Mobley had a huge Game 2 performance for the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA playoff win over the Boston Celtics a few days ago. Mobley shined with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal over 33 minutes.

Mobley stepped up as the starting center while Jarrett Allen (ribs) remained out in Game 2. Mobley enjoyed the best game of his young NBA postseason career, forging a 1-1 tie in this second-round playoff series.

Evan Mobley was taken No. 3 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA draft. We are seeing glimpses of his potential, and we are being reminded of why the Cavs took him with a top-three selection when they had the chance. Mobley’s rim protection has been as advertised in the NBA. His defensive instincts remain elite, much as they were in his one season at USC. However, Mobley’s offensive game still has a lot of room for improvement. The Boston Celtics held Cleveland to 93 points in Game 3 and 102 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Mobley and the Cavs are learning how to go up against a superior team and find solutions. The seeds planted in this series can hopefully sprout into something bigger in future years for Mobley and the Cavs.

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14 most surprising omissions (Tyrese Maxey!) from the 2024 USA Basketball men’s player pool

Unless these players denied invitations, these are some very shocking decisions by Team USA.

USA Basketball announced a 41-athlete player pool as candidates for the Paris Olympics roster. Eventually, 12 players will make the final cut.

Among the 12 names that we initially projected to make the roster after the 2023 FIBA World Cup, 11 appeared on the first list. Those players were LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards and Mikal Bridges.

A few notable All-Stars to also earn invitations include Chris Paul, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Trae Young, Jrue Holiday, De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Brandon Ingram, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jarrett Allen.

The other players were Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Brunson, Alex Caruso, Aaron Gordon, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Chet Holmgren, Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson and Derrick White.

Two players who we did not include in our surprising omissions were Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant. While both of these players may have helped the team on the court, they have faced off-court issues that made invitations unlikely — plus Morant is currently injured.

Otherwise, these were the most surprising omissions from the list:

Jarrett Allen: We see the seeds being planted, so we’re gonna have something special here

As vital as Donovan Mitchell is for the Cavaliers’ success, Jarrett Allen is almost as crucial for the team. Now in his seventh year, the Texas native is hoping to help anchor the Cavaliers frontline to make a deep playoff run. After hosting 25 …

As vital as Donovan Mitchell is for the Cavaliers’ success, Jarrett Allen is almost as crucial for the team. Now in his seventh year, the Texas native is hoping to help anchor the Cavaliers frontline to make a deep playoff run.

After hosting 25 students at a recent home game, the 2022 All-Star talked with HoopsHype about his recent injury, the foundation of his team, his Thanksgiving event, and more.