Every NBA team’s biggest question mark for the 2021-22 season

Cleveland Cavaliers: What position does Evan Mobley play?

Mobley was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick by the Cavaliers to be a major cog of their future. The challenge with his immediate fit in Cleveland is that he projects to play the same position as a guy who just got a big contract from the team’s front office.

Mobley’s upside is higher than Jarrett Allen’s, but he may not be ready to defend the center position as a rookie. That seems to suggest that the former USC star will begin his NBA career at the power forward position.

That’s not a long-term solution for the franchise. Mobley needs to slide down to the five as soon as he’s ready to get reps at what should be his long-term position. That change will make Allen a highly overpaid backup. In other words, Allen is highly unlikely to finish his current contract as a member of the organization.

Getting Mobley on the path to stardom should be Cleveland’s biggest priority in a season where they don’t have a prayer of sniffing the postseason. Getting him big minutes at the power forward spot will help his development, but there will come a time when he needs to settle in at center.