NBA Notes: Cavs, Evan Mobley, Pistons, Jalen Duren, Bulls

Cavaliers

The Cavaliers made it clear this offseason that Evan Mobley remains untouchable. Now comes the part where Mobley has to justify that faith.

Joe Vardon of The Athletic notes that Cleveland’s unwillingness to include Mobley in potential trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaylen Brown prevented the Cavs from making the type of blockbuster addition that may have strengthened their chances of landing LeBron James.

James ultimately chose Philadelphia, where Brown is now one of his teammates.

That doesn’t mean Cleveland made the wrong call. Mobley is a former Defensive Player of the Year and remains one of the NBA’s most talented young big men. But Vardon suggests it does increase the pressure.

If Mobley takes another significant step and develops into a true elite-level player, keeping him will be easy to defend. If he doesn’t, questions about what the Cavs could have acquired for him aren’t going away.

For the Cavs, the bet is obvious: Mobley’s best basketball is still ahead.

Pistons

Nearly a month into restricted free agency, the Pistons still intend to re-sign Jalen Duren.

Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press reports that Detroit hasn’t changed its stance despite the prolonged negotiations.

Duren’s problem is leverage. Rival teams can offer him up to four years and $177 million, but nobody stepped forward with that type of offer before available cap space disappeared. Detroit’s offer reportedly remains below the five-year, $239 million maximum.

Duren could accept his $9.6 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but that would mean passing up substantial guaranteed money now.

Bulls

Noa Essengue suddenly has plenty to prove in Chicago.

The No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft played only two games as a rookie before shoulder surgery ended his season. Now he’s working under a new front office and new coach Tiago Splitter.

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Bulls want Essengue to play with more force and become “less emotional and more tenacious.”

“He’s got to maybe bring a little more force in everything he does,” Splitter said.

Essengue struggled to make an impact at Summer League and was briefly benched by Splitter. With Chicago already carrying considerable frontcourt depth, Cowley suggests the 19-year-old could begin the season in the G League.