Evan Mobley Named Cavaliers' Top Trade Asset

Bleacher Report named Evan Mobley the Cleveland Cavaliers' top trade asset. 

Mobley is making $50,105,628 this season. 

"Something significant will have gone wrong with the current core if Mobley's name winds up in trade talks, but he'd clearly be the Cavs' most in-demand commodity in that hypothetical," Bleacher Report's Grant Hughe wrote. "Given the length of Donovan Mitchell's new extension, the likely lack of interest in James Harden and Jarrett Allen's meh standing among starting centers, Mobley is the one piece that could replenish the war chest in the event of disaster."

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson plans to utilize Mobley like NBA legend and Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett this season. Mobley has often been compared to Garnett, but you can’t be Garnett if you don’t play with Garnett-level intensity, an area in which Mobley struggles.

Mobley 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. His attention to detail, physical toughness and assertiveness need to improve this season.

For the Cavaliers this season, Mobley is averaging 19.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 57.6% from the field, 53.3% from beyond the arc and 64.5% from the free-throw line. 

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 Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was traded to the Miami 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 Cavaliers icon LeBron James. 

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. 

Mobley has been with the Cavaliers since 2021. He holds career averages of 16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. The USC product won the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year award. 

If the Cavaliers don't reach the NBA Finals this season, don't be surprised if Mobley is not on the roster next season. 

The Cavaliers face the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight in OKC. Cleveland lost to OKC on Monday at home by a final score of 117-112. Mobley had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.