Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 pivotal crossroads approaching
By Tony Pesta
Cleveland Cavaliers’ crossroads: The 2021 NBA Draft
This one is scary for the sheer fact that Cleveland doesn’t have much control over which direction they go in the 2021 NBA Draft. It likely comes down to who the Houston Rockets leave on the board at No. 3. And yet, the outcome of this draft might make or break this rebuild.
It’s not a secret at this point that Evan Mobley and Jalen Green are the two options for the Cavaliers. It would be a complete and utter shock if Cleveland trades out of the top three OR chooses someone other than Mobley or Green. The same can be said for Houston, who will make the decision for Cleveland by taking one of Mobley or Green for themselves.
As a result, the Cavs have little say in who they get this year. While they will be happy with either prospect, the organization will be impacted greatly by whoever they end up with.
Cleveland Cavaliers draft Green
In the event Cleveland selects Green with the third overall pick, a battle in the backcourt will instantly ensue. There is a chance the three guards revolutionize basketball and become a successful small-ball trio. But, it’s more realistic that someone gets bumped to the bench.
Whether it’s fair or not, all eyes have been turned to Collin Sexton. However, we will focus more on that in the next slide as we determine Sexton’s future in Cleveland. For now, let’s just say drafting Green will mean the end of Sexton being the franchise’s cornerstone.
In turn, the Cavaliers will likely shift to building on a dynamic (and properly sized) backcourt pairing of Garland and Green. It will be easier to flesh out the supporting cast once the front office feels confident in their stars of the future. As for Collin, he either embraces his role as one of the league’s best sixth men or looks to be traded.
Either way, the Cavs will be banking their future on Green blossoming into the elite offensive threat he appears to be. Acting as a hybrid build of James Harden and Zach LaVine, Green can elevate this Cavaliers’ team to new heights if he reaches his full potential.
In contrast, the franchise could accidentally derail any progress made between SexLand if Green flames out at the NBA level. Because of this, the franchise is probably more comfortable with taking Mobley at this spot, as he poses less of a risk for disaster.
Cavaliers draft Mobley
Okay, so what if Mobley is the player who is still available at No. 3? Certainly, this makes life easier for the Cavs than trying to fit Green into the crowded backcourt, right? Yes and no.
Mobley is one hell of a prospect. He’s a nimble, agile, top-end athlete who stands at 7-feet tall. Toss in a ridiculous wingspan, a soft touch from the 3-point line and some eye-popping playmaking skills for a player of his size and it’s super easy to get yourself psyched out about the idea of Mobley falling to the Cavs.
Nevertheless, Mobley still has to prove he can check all of those marks. It’s easy to dominate as a freakish athlete in the NCAA. But, can he impact an NBA game? Will his range and versatility on defense hold up at the next level? These are questions that have yet to be answered.
This wouldn’t be much of a concern for Cleveland, as nearly every prospect entering the draft comes with risks. However, the Cavs are already fairly committed to Jarrett Allen at the center position. Putting Mobley at a potentially awkward fit at power forward — or moving someone to the bench.
It might not be a bad idea to ease Mobley into the NBA world by allowing him to play behind Allen. In time, he can either earn a starting position or move to the forward position if all works out. The power of having two seven-footers alongside each other in the frontcourt will help make SexLand a more reasonable duo while even just the inside-out presence of Mobley being added to the mix makes everything easier for the Cavaliers to build around.
As you can see, the Cavaliers face pros and cons with either prospect. And, placing their future in the hands of a guard versus a center will make for drastically different outcomes. Regardless, this is a position the Cavs are happy to be in.