Evan Mobley ☆

Availability

His team isn't in the games shown here yet; his current status appears once it is.

This season

No data collected yet this season. His averages, lines history and splits fill in after his first regular-season game. Why?

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · 29 h ago

  In the scrimmage, the gold team's starting lineup included James Harden, Evan Mobley and Peyton Watson. Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen (heard as "Jared Allen"; likely Jarrett Allen) were both on the wine team.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Opinion · 29 h ago

  The host says he was underwhelmed by Evan Mobley in the Cavs' three preseason games.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Opinion · 29 h ago

  The host thought Mobley was far and away the best player on the floor in the scrimmage and the best he has looked all preseason. He cautions that the competition was diluted because one team was split in two.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Analysis · 29 h ago

  The host had no box score. He guesses Mobley scored around 25 points.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Analysis · 29 h ago

  Mobley's free-throw form looks better to the host, though still not perfect.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · 29 h ago

  The host believes Mobley hit two threes. One came on a sideline out-of-bounds play, where he came off a screen and curled into a left-wing three. The host says that shot was not his usual slow, deliberate three.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Analysis · 29 h ago

  Per the host, last season was a poor shooting year for Mobley. In the two seasons before that, he shot 37% on threes on low volume.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Open question · 29 h ago

  Open question: will Mobley's shooting return to his earlier level, stay at last season's level, or land in between, as it did in the postseason?

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Analysis · 29 h ago

  The host says the Harden–Mobley pairing is the one the team will start the season with. In the scrimmage the two were on the same team.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Open question · 29 h ago

  Open question: how often will Harden look for his own shot versus looking for Mobley?

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Prediction · 29 h ago

  The host predicts Harden will be good for Mobley and make him a better screen-setter. His reasoning is that Harden's slower pick-and-roll operation differs from Donovan Mitchell's and Darius Garland's and should get Mobley easy baskets and free runs to the rim. He says this was on display in the scrimmage.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Opinion · 29 h ago

  To the host, Mobley looks a little bigger physically, though not massively different. He thinks this should help Mobley's screening.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Analysis · 29 h ago

  The host thinks Watson can be special as a help defender at the rim, something the Cavs have not had from a wing. He argues this could free Mobley for his free-safety role, while Watson takes the opponent's best or second-best player.

• Podcast Evan Mobley (quoted), via Locked On Cavs · Quote · 29 h ago

  After the scrimmage, someone else (not the host) asked Mobley about Watson. Per the host, Mobley said Watson is always making big plays and that when Mobley thinks he needs to be somewhere defensively, Watson is already there.

• X Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) · Report · Oct 16

  Annual GM survey is out. There are 4 individual defensive categories & 17 players that received at least 1 vote. Evan Mobley, the 2025 DPOY, wasn’t one “People look at it as he’s not this, he’s not that. He’s Ev. He’s really good. That’s what matters” https://t.co/9dv7pIPds4

• Podcast NBA GM survey (reported), via Locked On Cavs · Relayed report · Oct 16

  No other Cavs got votes as best at their position: not James Harden at point guard, Peyton Watson at small forward, Evan Mobley at power forward, or Allen (heard as "Jared Allen"; likely Jarrett Allen) at center.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 16

  The host thinks adding Watson should help Mobley's defensive versatility case this year.

• Podcast NBA GM survey (reported), via Locked On Cavs · Relayed report · Oct 16

  Evan Mobley was not mentioned anywhere in the GM survey and got no votes for most versatile defender, which surprised the host.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 16

  The host says Mobley was injured for a decent chunk of last season. He also thinks Mobley probably took a step back defensively at times. No injury details are given.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 16

  Mobley won Defensive Player of the Year about 16 months ago. The ASR reads '18 months 7 16 months', so the figure is unclear.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · Analysis · Oct 15

  Mike Lucas reads the Cavs' decision to keep Evan Mobley, after talk that he may or may not have been on the block, as a sign they see him as a franchise pillar.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · Opinion · Oct 15

  Mike Lucas calls Mobley's preseason pretty underwhelming. Mobley got to the spots Mike wanted, but did not finish, missing in the same areas against Boston and Orlando.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · Opinion · Oct 15

  Mike Lucas's view: Mobley seems to be thinking too much and needs to just play. Mike says more reps and continuity will help once Kenny sets his rotation.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Opinion · Oct 15

  Danny Cunningham says Mobley looked no different in the preseason, more a continuation of last season, and calls his offense underwhelming in all facets.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · Oct 15

  Mobley's preseason shooting per the NBA shot chart, as read by Danny: 9 of 14 in the restricted area, 0 of 4 in the paint outside the restricted area (9 of 18 in the paint overall), 1 of 4 from mid-range and 2 of 7 from three.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Opinion · Oct 15

  Danny thought Mobley's defense was fine, apart from one play where he did not bring enough force against a drive by an Orlando player (heard as "Apollo Ben Carroll"; possibly Paolo Banchero).

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · Oct 15

  On Tuesday night Mobley and James Harden ran a nice pick-and-roll. Danny believes it came out of a timeout. Mobley missed the contested layup.

• Podcast Kenny Atkinson (reported), via Locked On Cavs · Relayed report · Oct 15

  Kenny Atkinson said he wants to (or wouldn't mind) using Mobley somewhat like Kevin Garnett on offense. Mike mentions trailer situations.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · Analysis · Oct 15

  Mike Lucas's analysis: a wing with Watson's defensive ability lets the Cavs be more aggressive with everyone else, because Watson can cover the backside when Allen or Mobley is pulled out of position. Mike also praises Watson's quick jumping for shot blocking.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · Oct 15

  In the preseason, Jarrett Allen (heard as "Jared Allen") was paired with Donovan Mitchell. Danny calls this a reversal from the last two years, when Mobley was Mitchell's partner.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 14

  The starting lineup included Evan Mobley (2 of 6 from three), Peyton Watson (1 of 5), Mitchell (heard as "Donald Mitchell", likely Donovan Mitchell; 1 of 5) and James Harden (1 of 5). The fifth starter is not named. The starters went 5 of 21 from three combined, counting all their minutes.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Opinion · Oct 14

  Host opinion: Banchero (heard as "Paulo") played with force and took it to Evan Mobley a few times, which the host says was not a Defensive Player of the Year-type performance in that matchup.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Opinion · Oct 14

  Host opinion: Evan Mobley had a relatively underwhelming preseason and hasn't looked any different than last year, though the host won't call it concerning yet.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 14

  In the finale, Mobley was 4 of 6 in the paint (as the host thinks) and had a somewhat better second half. The host says the two misses were shots he should have made.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Prediction · Oct 14

  Host prediction: playing with James Harden, Mobley will get perhaps the best looks of his career and needs to capitalize on them better.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Prediction · Oct 13

  The host expects the starting five to be James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Allen (heard as "Jared Allen"; likely Jarrett Allen). He says 'I think it's fair to say we know' and 'I believe that's what the starting five will be.'

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 13

  That same five started the Sunday night preseason game against Orlando.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 13

  Atkinson said the regulars would play more on Sunday, and they did: Mobley almost 27 minutes, Mitchell 25, Allen (likely Jarrett Allen) 25. As transcribed, all starters in the first game played 'less than 70 minutes', which is likely an ASR error.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 13

  The host argues Peyton Watson ties the frontcourt and backcourt together better than any small forward of the Mitchell era. Earlier options leaned either offense or defense; Watson can defend at an elite level and make plays in transition. He cites a Sunday play: Watson closed out on Franz Wagner, contested, recovered the loose ball and threw a lob to Mobley.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 13

  Mobley on Sunday: 14 points and 7 rebounds in 27 minutes, 8-of-9 free throws, 3-of-10 shooting with one missed three, and his other nine shots in the paint. He did not play a fourth quarter. The host wants better finishing inside.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 12

  The host says the Cavs need Harden to be willing to take catch-and-shoot shots. He believes Harden shot about 43-44% on those looks after Cleveland acquired him last season. He argues that this role makes more sense because three of the other starters (Mitchell, Mobley, Watson) can make plays for others.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 12

  In the Thursday loss to Boston, Mobley had one rebound and Mitchell had none. The host called both unacceptable.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 12

  Change from past usage: against Orlando, Harden and Mobley played as a duo, and Mitchell and Allen (heard as "Jared Allen") played as a duo. By the end of last season, Mitchell had been paired with Mobley and Harden with Allen.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 12

  Harden and Mobley played about 10 minutes without Mitchell and Allen and outscored Orlando by 6, with a 104.3 offensive rating and an 85.7 defensive rating.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 12

  The host states that the Cavs are paying Evan Mobley max money (the ASR reads "maximized money").

Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.

• Opinion Danny Cunningham: Harden's pick-and-roll play will make Mobley a better screener and get him easy baskets.
  2026-10-17 · Podcast · by 2027-04-12
• Opinion Danny Cunningham: Playing with Harden, Evan Mobley may get the best looks of his career.
  2026-10-14 · Podcast · by 2027-04-12
• Waiting Danny Cunningham: Evan Mobley starts on opening night.
  2026-10-13 · Podcast · for @ PHI, 2026-10-22
• Opinion Locked On Cavs (show): Mobley, Wade, Tyson, Harden and Mitchell will close most games. Allen will usually not be in the closing lineup.
  2026-02-04 · Podcast
• Opinion Danny Cunningham: Mobley and Allen thrive playing next to Harden.
  2026-02-04 · Podcast
• Opinion Danny Cunningham: The rotation staggers Mitchell with Mobley and Allen with Harden.
  2026-02-04 · Podcast

Checkable calls about Evan Mobley from the voices we track, and how they turned out.

Game log