Cavaliers' Evan Mobley Doesn't Hold Back While Talking About James Harden

While talking to local reporters, Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley spoke glowingly about James Harden. 

Mobley loves playing with Harden. 

“Like you said, a legend," Mobley said about Harden. "It’s crazy that I get to play with him and be around him every day and learn from him. It’s surreal in a way. But as I get to know him every single day, he’s a great guy, just a normal dude just like all of us. I feel that’s a big factor that lot of people hold people on pedestals, but he’s just a normal guy just like all of us. I feel that gives everyone else confidence that he has a good personality, natural personality, and gets along with everyone. He’s not trying to big-time anyone or anything like that.”

The Cavaliers will start Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Jarrett Allen and  Mobley this season. On paper, that's a really strong starting five. 

The Cavaliers acquired Harden from the LA Clippers last season. Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per game for Cleveland in the regular season and 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game in the playoffs.

The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz before the 2022-23 season. Mitchell is averaging 26.7 points per game in the regular season and 27.3 points per game in the playoffs in a Cleveland uniform. Mitchell signed a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension this offseason.   

Watson signed a four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers via a sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets. The contract includes a player option and a trade kicker.

For the Nuggets last season, Watson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, 41.1% from beyond the arc and 73.0% from the free-throw line. He's one of the top two-way wings in the league.

Allen will make $28 million this season. The Texas product averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season while shooting 63.8% from the field and 70.9% from the free-throw line. He recorded 20 double-doubles.

For the Cavaliers last season, Mobley averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 54.6% from the field, 29.7% from beyond the arc and 60.6% from the free-throw line. 

Cleveland wasn't interested in trading Mobley to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis 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.

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

Cleveland opens this season against LeBron James 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.  

Mitchell, Watson, Harden, Mobley and Allen will try to do what LeBron did in 2016. The 2015-16 Cavaliers won the 2016 championship against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.