In a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, Atkinson spoke specifically about Evan Mobley and praised the progress the young forward made last season. “Evan had to stretch out his game a little. He’s no Eddie Johnson, but he’s getting there,” the coach began.

Breaking down aspects of Mobley’s evolving skill set, Atkinson added: “He shot 38 percent from three. You saw him in different ways, even shooting some off-the-dribble threes, and he can spread the floor.”

The forward clearly had his best NBA season yet. Mobley was a key piece for the Cavaliers and posted career highs in several categories, including points per game (18.5) and assists (3.2). His performance earned him his first All-Star selection, as well as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

While Atkinson acknowledged Mobley’s strong numbers, he made it clear that the 23-year-old still has room to grow. “I think he’s gotta get stronger, right? But he’s 23. Everybody wants it now, but it’s gonna take some time.”

If he continues developing at this rate, Mobley could soon join the league’s elite. Atkinson made that prediction without hesitation: “Wait till this guy is 26 years old. I don’t wanna oversell it, but he’s gonna be an MVP candidate. I don’t see a world where that doesn’t happen.”

During the 2024–25 regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the top team in the Eastern Conference, finishing with an impressive 64–18 record. While they ultimately fell short in the playoffs—eliminated in the semifinals by the Indiana Pacers—their regular-season dominance highlighted the team’s long-term potential.

Mobley was a major contributor to Cleveland’s success, as Atkinson emphasized. But he wasn’t the only standout. Point guard Darius Garland also earned an All-Star nod thanks to his strong regular-season play, while Donovan Mitchell remained the team’s top star.

The 28-year-old shooting guard led Cleveland in scoring, averaging 24.0 points per game, along with 5.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds. His efforts earned him a fifth-place finish in MVP voting behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jayson Tatum.

If Kenny Atkinson’s bold prediction comes true and Evan Mobley reaches true superstar status in the coming years, his rise—combined with Mitchell’s elite production—could firmly establish the Cavaliers as contenders in the Eastern Conference for years to come.

None of the three suited up in Game 2 due to injuries: Hunter (thumb) and Mobley (ankle) were both hurt in Game 1, while Garland has yet to appear in the series. All three remain listed as questionable for Friday night’s pivotal matchup.

In Game 2, Haliburton sealed the win with a last-second bucket, improving his NBA career record in game-winning shot attempts to an astounding 10-of-11. His heroics overshadowed a 48-point performance from Donovan Mitchell, which ultimately wasn’t enough for a shorthanded Cavaliers squad.

Will they play tonight?

Cleveland received a dose of optimism Friday morning when Garland (toe), Hunter (thumb), and Mobley (ankle) were all seen taking part in the team’s morning shootaround in Indianapolis, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. While their official statuses remain uncertain pending pregame warmups, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on The Pat McAfee Show that all three players “intend to play” given the urgency of the situation.

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson noted on Thursday that all three participated in the team’s walkthrough but stopped short of confirming their availability. “They all got some reps up, but we didn’t do anything live. They kind of participated in the walk-through, and [we’re] hoping for the best,” Atkinson said.

Darius Garland injury update

The All-Star guard has missed four straight playoff games after aggravating a toe injury during Cleveland’s first-round win over the Miami Heat. Garland was seen jogging on a treadmill during the Game 2 shootaround but did not dress. He remains listed as questionable.

Evan Mobley injury update

Mobley suffered a left ankle sprain in Game 1 vs Pacers, after landing awkwardly on Myles Turner’s foot while attempting a hook shot. Charania described Mobley’s status for Game 3 as “the biggest question” among the three.

De’Andre Hunter injury update

Hunter injured his right thumb in Game 1 after falling hard following a blocked shot by Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin. Though Hunter initially stated he wouldn’t miss time, he was ultimately held out of Game 2 and is officially questionable heading into Friday.

Mobley, one of Cleveland’s cornerstone players and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, played 36 minutes in the series opener. He posted an impressive stat line of 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals, as he also sustained a sprained left ankle.

Despite being listed as questionable for tonight’s game, Evan Mobley has been ruled out and will not play against the Pacers, along with Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter.

According to reports from the Akron Beacon Journal, Mobley did not participate in the portion of practice open to the media on May 6. Head coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed during his pregame press conference that Mobley, along with Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter, remains questionable.

What the Cavaliers lose without Mobley

Mobley has been instrumental for Cleveland on both ends of the floor this season. In the playoffs, he is averaging 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, showcasing his dominance in the paint.

If Mobley is unable to play, Jarrett Allen’s role becomes even more critical. The Cavaliers would lean heavily on Allen to anchor their defense and provide a strong presence in the post on offense.

Cavaliers’ injury report

Mobley isn’t the only player Cleveland is monitoring ahead of Game 2 against the Pacers. Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter are also listed as questionable. Garland has missed the last three games due to a sprained left big toe, an injury sustained late in the regular season and aggravated in Game 2 of Cleveland’s first-round sweep against the Miami Heat.

Hunter, on the other hand, dislocated his right thumb after a hard fall in Game 1. Despite the injury, Hunter logged 30 minutes off the bench in the series opener, contributing 11 points, four rebounds, and one assist.

Throughout the season, there was considerable debate over whether Green should be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) ahead of contenders like Evan Mobley and Dyson Daniels. Ultimately, the honor went to Cleveland Cavaliers star Evan Mobley.

After the Warriors’ Game 3 victory over the Houston Rockets, Green was asked about falling short of the award and responded by offering praise to Mobley. “Congratulations to Evan Mobley. Incredible young player… It’s always great to see young guys get their due in this league,” Green said.

While Green did not claim the DPOY title, he remains a strong candidate to earn a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team. This season, he has once again proven to be the defensive anchor for Golden State, consistently taking on the toughest assignments every night.

Jalen Green reflects on altercation with Draymond Green

Draymond Green’s postseason campaign for a potential DPOY case hasn’t been without controversy — a familiar theme for the fiery forward. In Game 3 against Houston, Green found himself in the middle of another heated moment, this time with Rockets guard Jalen Green.

While the Warriors celebrated their win, the confrontation between the two Greens seemed to have a lasting impact. Jalen Green admitted that the altercation disrupted his focus, becoming a turning point in the game for Houston.

“It was just talking. He [Draymond Green] can’t really do much of anything else, so talking is his only way,” Jalen Green said after the loss, not holding back when discussing the Warriors’ emotional leader. The brewing tension now adds extra intrigue to Monday’s pivotal Game 4, as Houston looks to avoid falling further behind in the series.

Draymond Green explains intentional technical foul in game 3

Draymond Green’s influence in Game 3 extended beyond defense. In a crucial moment, Green intentionally picked up a technical foul — a calculated move he later explained to reporters.

“I thought it was time to take one right there, so I did and made sure I got one, and then I kept it pushing… Sometimes stuff like that is needed, and I felt like it was needed right there,” Green said. The veteran’s understanding of momentum and timing once again proved invaluable as Golden State edged closer to advancing to the next round of the NBA playoffs.

There’s never a ‘sure thing’ when it comes to the NBA Draft. Scouts can make mistakes as there are plenty of intangibles that can’t be measured; such as their work ethic, development, and even luck.

This year won’t be the exception to that rule. Even though we have some potential superstars in Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Green; we know that some other players will take the league by storm even if no one sees them coming.

2021 NBA Draft: All Trades

+ Russell Westbrook traded to Lakers for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, 22nd pick, 2014 2nd-round pick, 2018 2nd-roundp pick.

+ 10th & 17th picktraded between Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans as a part of the Jonas Valanciunas, Steven Adams, and Eric Bledsoe trade.

+ 16th pickfrom Oklahoma City Thunder to Houston Rockets for futurefirst-round pick via Wizards (Alperen Sengun selected).

+ 19th pick from New York Knicks to Charlotte Hornets for future first-round pick (Kai Jones).

+ 21st pick from New York Knicks to Los Angeles Clippers for 25th pick and a future second-round pick (Keon Johnson selected).

+ 22nd pickfrom Washington Wizards to Indiana Pacers for Aaron Holiday and the 31st pick(Isaiah Jackson selected).

+ 30th pickfrom Utah Jazz to Memphis Grizzlies (Santi Aldama selected).

2021 NBA Draft Order: Every Pick

First Round

1. Cade Cunningham – G – Detroit Pistons
2.Jalen Green – SG -Houston Rockets
3. Evan Mobley– PF/C – Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Scottie Barnes– F – Toronto Raptors
5. Jalen Suggs – PG – Orlando Magic
6. Josh Giddey– PG – Oklahoma City Thunder
7. Jonathan Kuminga – F – Golden State Warriors(from Minnesota)
8. Franz Wagner – PF – Orlando Magic (from Chicago)
9. Davion Mitchell – G – Sacramento Kings
10. Ziaire Williams – SF – New Orleans Pelicans, traded to Memphis Grizzlies
11. James Bouknight – SG – Charlotte Hornets
12.Joshua Primo– SG- San Antonio Spurs
13. Chris Duarte– SG – Indiana Pacers
14. Moses Moody – SG -Golden State Warriors
15. Corey Kispert – SF – Washington Wizards
16.Alperen Sengun – PF/C – Oklahoma City Thunder (from Boston), traded to Houston Rockets
17.Trey Murphy III – Memphis Grizzlies, traded to Memphis Grizzlies
18. Tre Mann – SG – Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami via the LA Clippers, Philadelphia, and Phoenix)
19.Kai Jones– C – New York Knicks, traded to Charlotte Hornets
20. Jalen Johnson – F -Atlanta Hawks
21. Keon Johnson – SG -New York Knicks (from Dallas), traded to Los Angeles Clippers
22. Isaiah Jackson– PF/C – Washington Wizards (from Lakers), traded to Indiana Pacers
23. Usman Garuba – F – Houston Rockets (from Portland)
24. Josh Christopher– SG – Houston Rockets (from Milwaukee)
25. Quentin Grimes – SG – Los AngelesClippers, traded to New York Knicks
26. Nah’Shon Hyland – PG –Denver Nuggets
27. Cameron Thomas– SG – Brooklyn Nets
28. Jaden Springer– G – Philadelphia 76ers
29. Day’Ron Sharpe – PF/C Brooklyn Nets (from Phoenix)
30. Santi Aldama – PF/C – Utah Jazz, traded to Memphis

That’s why insiders, analysts, scouts, and even fans always put together their big board to do their very own mock drafts, taking into account the best player available, what a team needs, and even some trades.

Today, we’re going to share our predictions and mock draft with you, so you can also try it at home and see how it goes. Note: For this purpose, we’re not considering trades, just the position where a player is most likely going to be taken. Take into notice that teams like the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are likely to trade one or multiple picks.

2021 NBA Mock Draft

1. Cade Cunningham, G, OSU, Fr. – Detroit Pistons
2. Jalen Green, SG, G-League, Fr. – Houston Rockets
3. Evan Mobley, C, USC, Fr. – Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga, Fr. – Toronto Raptors
5. Scottie Barnes – SF, FSU, Fr. – Orlando Magic
6. Jonathan Kuminga – SF, G-League, Fr. – Oklahoma City Thunder
7. James Bouknight – SG, UConn, So. – Golden State Warriors
8. Moses Moody – SG, Arkansas, Fr. – Orlando Magic
9. Franz Wagner – F, Michigan, So. – Sacramento Kings
10. Josh Giddey – PG, Australia, Int. – Memphis Grizzlies
11. Kai Jones – C, Texas, So. – Charlotte Hornets
12. Corey Kispert – SF, Gonzaga, Sr. – San Antonio Spurs
13. Davion Mitchell – G, Baylor, Jr. – Indiana Pacers
14. Chris Duarte – SG, Oregon, Sr. – Golden State Warriors
15. Jalen Johnson – F, Duke, Fr. – Washington Wizards
16. Usman Garuba – F, Real Madrid, Int. – Oklahoma City Thunder
17. Keon Johnson – SG, Tennessee, Fr. – New Orleans Pelicans
18. Alperen Sengun – PF/C, Besiktas, Int. – Oklahoma City Thunder
19. Miles McBride – PG, West Virginia, So. – New York Knicks
20. Ziaire Williams – SG/SF, Stanford, Fr. – Atlanta Hawks
21. Isaiah Jackson – PF/C, Kentucky, Fr. – New York Knicks
22. Joshua Primo – SG, Alabama, Fr. – Los Angeles Lakers
23. Cameron Thomas – SG, LSU, Fr. – Houston Rockets
24. Jared Butler – G, Baylor, Jr. – Houston Rockets
25. Nah’Shon Hyland – PG, VCU, So. – Los Angeles Clippers
26. Tre Mann -G, Florida, So. – Denver Nuggets
27. Day’Ron Sharpe – C, UNC, Fr. – Brooklyn Nets
28. Jaden Springer – G, Tennessee, Fr. – Philadelphia 76ers
29. Josh Christopher – SG, ASU, Fr. – Phoenix Suns
30. Isaiah Todd – F, G-League, Fr. – Utah Jazz

2021 NBA Draft: Top 3 Prospects

So, now that we’ve talked about the first round, let’s get to what most people really care about: The top 3 best players in this year’s class: USC’s Evan Mobley, Ignite’s Jalen Green, and OSU’s Cade Cunningham.

3. Evan Mobley – Cleveland Cavaliers

Info: PF/C, 7’0”, 215 lb, 20.1 Years
Stats: 16.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.9 BPG, 2.2 TO, 1.8 PF, 57.8% FG, 30.0% 3FG
Player Comparison: Chris Bosh, Anthony Davis, Kevin Garnett

Even though he slipped from 2 to 3 in most big boards, some still believe that Evan Mobley has the higher ceiling among all the players in this class. That’s because he’s offensively skilled and versatile but also a lockdown defender in the making.

While not an elite shooter in terms of efficiency, Mobley’s form and release make scouts think that he can become a legit 40+% shooter from beyond the arc in the NBA. Combine that with elite awareness and rim protection skills and you have yourself a superstar.

On the downside, there will always be a concern when it comes to big men in today’s NBA. But Mobley looks like a sure thing at this point in his development, given his underrated playmaking skills and shooting.

2. Jalen Green -Houston Rockets

Info: SG, 6’6”, 180 lb, 19.5 Years
Stats: 17.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.7 TO, 1.7 PF, 46.1% FG, 36.5% FG
Player Comparison: Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine, Clyde Drexler

Jalen Green was the first big-name player to skip college and join the G-League Ignite program. He’s been training with grown men for a year and that has definitely helped him flourish into a promising scorer at the next level.

Green has the upside of becoming a generational scorer. He can put the ball through the hoop from all three levels and has a never-ending bag of tricks and savvy moves. He can create separation in the blink of an eye, pull up from all over the court, and get to the rim at will.

As it usually happens with these players, Jalen Green tends to be streaky and it’s not fully committed in the defensive end of the floor. But his ability to finish inside with both hands is just elite, both below and above the rim. At worst, he’ll be a 15+ points-per-game kind of guy.

1. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons

Info: G, 6’8”, 220 lb, 19.8 Years
Stats: 20.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 4.0 TO, 2.5 PF, 43.8% FG, 40.0% 3FG
Player Comparison: Magic Johnson, Grant Hill, Luka Doncic

Cade Cunningham has been the consensus first-overall pick in this class for months now and for very good reasons. Some go as far as to call him Magic Johnson with a jump shot, which is obviously some pretty big shoes to fill.

Magic or not, Cunningham has the combination of playmaking, size, athleticism, body control, and offensive versatility to become a nightmare for opposing defenses. Also, he’s smart and makes great reads in real-time, although he could take better care of the ball.

Cunningham can either bully-ball his way through the rim, jab-step from the elbow, pull-up, catch and shoot, you name it. He can do it all with the rock in his hands and looks like a generational talent.