Cavaliers All-Star Evan Mobley Ranked 4th-Best Power Forward in NBA

HoopsHype ranked Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Evan Mobley the fourth-best power forward in the NBA.

Mobley trails only Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat, Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks and Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors. 

"Mobley has often been compared to Kevin Garnett, at least earlier in his career, but you can’t be Kevin Garnett if you don’t play with Kevin Garnett-level intensity, another area in which Mobley struggles," HoopsHype wrote. "He too often floats in and out of games and doesn’t make the play-by-play impact on both ends that his ceiling might allow. 

"Even so, Mobley is so talented that even in a disappointing season like 2025-26, he still ranked among the Top 30 players in the league according to BPM and VORP, hence why we have him ranked where he is here. We’d just like to see Mobley improve on that outside shooting and his overall intensity, because he has the upside to be the best power forward in the league if he were to improve on those two traits."

Mobley has been with the Cavaliers since 2021. He holds career averages of 16.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. The USC product won the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year award. 

The Cavaliers made the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 2018. They lost to the New York Knicks in four games and Mobley was outplayed by Karl-Anthony Towns.

Cleveland wasn't interested in trading Mobley to the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo, who was traded to the Heat. The Cavaliers also had no interest in trading Mobley for Jaylen Brown, who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 76ers then signed Dean Wade and LeBron James. 

Mobley is under major pressure to play like a superstar next season. If he doesn't, the Cavaliers will regret not moving him for Brown or Antetokounmpo, two former Finals MVPs. 

The Cavaliers will start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Mobley and Jarrett Allen next season. Yes, Mitchell and Harden are future Hall of Famers, but for Cleveland to win a title, Mobley has to be the team's best player.   

Cleveland opens next season against LeBron and the 76ers in Philadelphia. That will be an electric atmosphere.         

If the Cavaliers falter in the 2027 playoffs, don't be surprised if Mitchell, Harden and Allen are not on the team in 2027-28.