Comparisons in sports are inevitable. They pique interest, turn opinions into debates and more recently have become the punchline in many sports memes. Coming into the 2021 NBA Draft, star USC forward Evan Mobley has garnered much attention based on comparisons alone, and it’s safe to say his ceiling has already been set high. This future NBA star has drawn comparisons to some of the best bigs in the league, but what he has is something that you don’t see a lot in today’s game; and that’s versatility.
Coming into the draft, Mobley isn’t too focused on the comparisons to players like Lakers center Anthony Davis. In an interview during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on ESPN’s NBA Countdown, Mobley said, “I don’t really like to compare too much. I focus on my game. I take bits and pieces from different people but I just like to focus on my game and be the best that I can be.”
Nonetheless, his game has caught the attention of NBA scouts who have been in awe of his elite athletic ability and basketball IQ long before his freshman year at USC. The 20-year-old is arguably one of the best prospects in a dominant draft class. Although his size may seem like a disadvantage being that he is rather small for a big at 7 feet and 215 pounds, he makes up for it in his ability to use it to his advantage. His versatility on the floor is refreshing, as he is able to both create plays on offense and switch and become a dominant presence on defense. This makes him a steal no matter where he lands on draft night.
Mobley is coming off an impressive NCAA Tournament debut in which he helped lead the Trojans to an Elite Eight appearance, their first since 2001. He averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.9 blocks per game over his only season at USC. His commanding performance earned Mobley Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors in the Pac-12, while also being named First Team All-Pac-12, Pac-12 All-Defensive First Team and a Consensus All-American. Mobley has shown that he has the potential to be one of the best two-way big men in the NBA.
While this isn’t the 1990s and most teams don’t prioritize drafting a big, Mobley has the potential to become a generational talent. What he has can be of value to any team he’s drafted by, so which one could use him the most? The answer is simple, and they come in at picks 3 and 4. One team is looking to rebuild on both ends of the floor, while the other is one piece away from being back in the headlines.
At the No. 3 pick, we have the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers were a team who started off hot at the beginning of the 2020-21 season but slowly fizzled out toward the end. Losing their big man Andre Drummond at the trade deadline was a big hit, but the addition of center Jarret Allen could make this pick at No. 3 work. It’s believed the Cavs see Mobley playing at the 4 or 5 spot. This would work because the defensive versatility between Mobley and Allen can be something to build on and possibly open the door to more second-chance attempts on offense. Mobley didn’t have much shooting around him at USC, and the Cavaliers are lacking in that department as well, so it’ll be interesting to see what the offense becomes. It’s not unfamiliar territory for him so his IQ will be on full display here.
However, if the Cavaliers don’t select Mobley, the Raptors at the No. 4 pick have a clear path back to the spotlight. As far as player development goes, there’s a good chance we’ll be able to see Mobley’s game on full display with the Raptors if he’s able to rise to the challenge of being on an Eastern Conference team that, despite last year’s playoff miss, can be an elite force when all the pieces add up. This means putting on size to match sustained NBA-level competition. Drafting a center like Mobley could also be the missing piece to what looks to be an already set lineup at the other four starting positions with Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam who are all under contract and either one if not both of Gary Trent Jr. and Kyle Lowry, who could be on the move.
Heading into draft night, anyone with any basketball knowledge can see that Evan Mobley will be a name we will probably want to remember. This unicorn’s big impact will be one that we’ll enjoy watching develop. He is poised for this moment, and it only gets better from here.