Evan Mobley's 2026 NBA Playoffs run should determine if the Cleveland Cavaliers move on from him

Evan Mobley's 2026 NBA Playoffs run should determine if the Cleveland Cavaliers move on from him originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . A lot is being made of Evan Mobley's development, or lack thereof, with the Cleveland Cavaliers .

The former 3rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mobley, has been seen as a guy who has endless potential. Many scouting pros expected him to be a defensive-minded big man who could develop into a Tim Duncan-like power forward/center on offense. Huge expectations, but so far, half of that is true.

Mobley won the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year Award at just 23, cementing the belief that he's one of the best defensive players in the league already. While his defensive attributes aren't in doubt, his offense has been average at best. He's by no means a liability on the court, but many expected him to be the best player at both ends of the court on any given team.

Right now, Mobley still needs the likes of a Donovan Mitchell-type to help the Cavs offense run smoothly. More: Bleacher Reports puts Donovan Mitchell in rarified air with the NBA's all-time greats Due to his lackluster offensive development, some wonder if he'll ever turn into the offensive player many hoped he'd be. That uncertainty has caused fans and experts alike to talk about whether or not it's time for Cleveland to move on from the big.