Cavs Insider

Cavaliers' New Coach Might Be Exactly What Evan Mobley Needs

The Cavaliers will only go as far as Evan Mobley can carry them, and their new coaching hire could be the catalyst to take Cleveland to another level.
Evan Dammarell|
Apr 6, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Apr 6, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

In this story:

Cleveland Cavaliers

As his star continues to rise, the Cleveland Cavaliers will only go as far as Evan Mobley can carry them. Last season, Mobley earned his first All-Star honors, and his career-best numbers across the board also earned him second-team All-NBA recognition.

Mobley's success has set the standard for him to be the key to Cleveland winning. To help him tap into that potential, the Cavaliers brought in former Sacramento Kings assistant coach and director of player development Jawad Williams.

Hiring Williams was not only to replace the departing Jordan Ott, who was signed by the Phoenix Suns. Instead, and more importantly, it's to take Mobley and the Cavaliers to the next level.

“Everybody knows Jordan Ott was huge when it came to player development,” Cavaliers reporter Chris Fedor shared. “The Phoenix Suns pointed that out in their press release when they hired Jordan, and the work that he did with Evan Mobley.”

What makes this pairing for Mobley intriguing is Williams’ recent experience in Sacramento, where he witnessed an offense centered around a playmaking big man in Domantas Sabonis, something Cleveland wants to implement more of next season.

“Think about what they’re trying to turn Evan Mobley into here and the environment that Jawad’s coming from," Jimmy Watkins said in reply to Fedor's comments. "The Sacramento Kings, they were one of very few teams in the NBA that use their center to initiate so many different [actions]. Domantas Sabonis, he is the sun around which all of the pieces of the Sacramento Kings offense were involved.”

If everything pans out, Williams’ presence will help Mobley to take continue evolving into a superstar on the offensive end of the floor. An offense built entirely around Mobley could be huge for the Cavaliers and be a difference maker, especially come playoff time, where Cleveland wants to be contending for an NBA title.

Published
Evan Dammarell
EVAN DAMMARELL

Evan Dammarell is a credentialed, award-winning sports journalist who has covered the Cleveland Cavaliers and the NBA for nearly a decade right off the shores of Lake Erie. His work has appeared on Forbes, ClutchPoints, SBNation, FanSided, Heavy, The Locked On Podcast Network, and Right Down Euclid, among others. Evan is committed to his vision to go beyond the scores and so much more so that every fan can always keep up with what’s going on with their favorite teams on and off the court.

Share on XFollow AmNotEvan
Home/News