Koby Altman: Evan Mobley remains key part of Cavs’ future

Every time a superstar becomes available, Evan Mobley‘s name seems to find its way into trade rumors.

That doesn’t mean the Cavaliers are interested.

Asked directly whether Mobley would “definitively” be back next season amid ongoing trade speculation, Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman didn’t spend much time entertaining the idea of a move.

“Yeah, I mean, he’s part of our future,” Altman said.

The question comes as the Cavaliers continue to be linked to various blockbuster trade rumors following their Eastern Conference finals loss to the New York Knicks, including speculative scenarios involving Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Altman declined to address any specific trade chatter but made it clear how highly the organization still views Mobley.

“Since Evan’s been here, we’ve had the third-best record in the league,” Altman said. “All Evan has done is impact winning. He’s been remarkable for us.”

Mobley remains one of the NBA’s most versatile young big men and continues to be viewed internally as a player capable of taking another leap.

“He knows he needs to get better,” Altman said. “We’ve talked about the intangibles. How are we going to get stronger?”

Altman also pointed to Mobley’s postseason performance as evidence of his continued growth.

“Mobley, you could argue, was consistently our best player throughout the playoffs,” Altman said. “He’s a franchise-caliber player, and we’re very fortunate to have him.”

Basically, whatever trade speculation may exist externally, the Cavs continue to speak about Mobley as a cornerstone player.