Cavaliers Expected To Sign Evan Mobley To Max Extension Soon

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to sign Evan Mobley to a max extension soon. 

Mobley is eligible to sign a rookie-scale max extension. 

The Cavaliers are expected to reach an agreement soon with Evan Mobley on a max extension, per @WindhorstESPN (https://t.co/O9fVHL7xd3).

Mobley would join Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes and Franz Wagner as players from the 2021 draft class to receive rookie-scale max deals. pic.twitter.com/XB65tg2cRC

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 11, 2024

Mobley averaged 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.4 blocks for the Cavaliers this past season in 50 games while shooting 58.0% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 71.9% from the free-throw line. 

A California native, Mobley has career averages of 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.5 blocks. He’s established himself as one of the best defenders in the NBA. 

The Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games and lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in five games. JB Bickerstaff was fired as head coach and replaced by Kenny Atkinson, who signed a five-year deal. 

Cleveland is building around Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. Mitchell signed a three-year max extension. A source told Hoops Wire that Mitchell privately grew tired of everyone saying he would leave the Cavaliers, who acquired the All-Star guard from the Utah Jazz in 2022. 

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, Mobley‘s representation cautioned the Cavaliers not to draft him.

Cleveland still drafted Mobley with the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

“Interestingly, Mobley’s representation, Wasserman, cautioned the Cavs prior to the 2021 draft not to select Mobley, league sources said,” Charania, Vardon and Lloyd wrote. “It is a common draft strategy among agents in an effort to get players to certain teams — in this instance, Oklahoma City. The Thunder made multiple offers for the Cavs’ No. 3 pick in the draft that year, league sources said. But the Cavs selected Mobley anyway, and the relationship has remained healthy and positive.”