Cavs Summer League Player Reviews
2021-08-19Good evening CtB!
Now that Summer League is over for the Cavs, let’s take a look at the boys of summer individually as we move forward to training camp, a mere six weeks away… let’s dive right in!
Evan Mobley
Obviously all eyes were on the NBA debut of Evan Mobley, the third pick in the 2021 NBA draft. In his three games, Mobley showed everybody why he was such a tantalizing prospect coming out of USC. So what do Cavs’ fans have to look forward to as it pertains to Mobley? What jumps out immediately about Mobley is his impact on the defensive end. He came right out of the gate as an elite shot blocker (5.1% block rate, stats courtesy of realgm.com). The Cavs posted a championship level 102.0 defensive rating in the minutes Mobley was on the court. Mobley will have his NBA-ready defensive skills to lean on to secure his minutes on the floor.
Mobley also was able to demonstrate well above average offensive playmaking, posting a 17.7% assist rate in his three games this summer. Mobley’s assist rate would rank in the top quartile of NBA players, and is even more impressive considering he’s a big man with this type of anticipation and unselfishness. It would behoove the Cavs’ coaching staff to find ways to leverage Mobley’s passing ability into efficient offense, something that’s been missing all too often in the post-LeBron era.
Mobley won’t be without his struggles as he adjusts to life in the NBA. His inability to score despite leading the Summer League Cavs in usage rate (26.3%) was his most glaring weakness. To be fair to Mobley, there was clearly rookie jitters, bricking shots that he normally drains, as well as Cavs’ Summer League Head Coach JJ Outlaw’s ill advised playcalls for Mobley post touches in the game against the Houston Rockets. But once the Cavs’ coaching staff adjusted Mobley’s touches to the perimeter, he came alive especially in the game against the Orlando Magic. It will be a long process to get Mobley to play NBA quality offense, but the building blocks of a super star player are there if Mobley figures out how to find his shots.
Another aspect of the game Mobley will need to improve is his defensive rebounding. He posted a 14.9% defensive rebound rate, which is average for an NBA player, and surely below average for a seven footer such as Mobley. However, Mobley did show improvement in that area in his final Summer League game against the Pelicans. Also, Mobley posted a nearly elite 8.8% offensive rebound rate, so the ability to anticipate and hustle to the ball are there, it’s a matter of Mobley dedicating work to improve his strength and conditioning to take on the rigors of the NBA.
Isaac Okoro
Ice only played two games, but he demonstrated more growth scoring the ball, sporting an elite 66.1% true shooting percentage. One could also argue there was growth for Ice from a playmaking perspective, with a 14.7% assist rate, which is far above last season’s average of 9%. With Ice doing what the Cavs wanted to see, he left on a high note and it will be exciting to see what’s in store for his NBA sophomore season.
Lamar Stevens
While Stevens didn’t really show improvement with his ability to score, the Penn State product showed a much more rounded game in Summer League offensively. Stevens was able to display some playmaking (15.0% assist rate, nearly double last year’s season average of 8%), and top notch decision making, posting an obscenely low 2.7% turnover rate. The Cavs posted a 115.0 offensive rating in Summer League while Stevens was on the floor. There’s no question Stevens has some positive momentum as he heads into training camp to battle for a backup wing/small ball big man role.
Jaylen Hands
According to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com, Hands has the inside track over Matt Ryan and Trevon Bluiett for the second two way spot, which is somewhat puzzling given all of their Summer League performances and the obvious need for the Cavs to add competent jump shooters to one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA. While Hands did show excellent playmaking ability (30.5% assist rate), it didn’t actually lead to good team offense. The Cavs posted a ghastly 103.0 offensive rating while Hands was on the floor.
Now to be fair to Hands, he played a lot of minutes with the backups, who aren’t NBA quality players. Also, the ability to get into the paint off the dribble and create is a highly prized NBA skill, which Hands seemed to show in spurts. More than anything, it seems as though the Cavs simply think there are better odds that Hands will hit based on his basketball recruiting reputation (a former five star recruit, ranked ahead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and one spot behind Trae Young in the 2017 RSCI class) and his age (22 years old, two years younger than Ryan and five years younger than Bluiett).
Trevon Bluiett
Besides Matt Ryan, the former Xavier University star should be the real story of Cavs’ Summer League, with his ability to knock down the three (43.8% on over six attempts per game) as well as make good decisions with the ball (14.3% assist rate, 8.6% turnover rate). The Cavs turned in a 126.0 offensive rating while he was on the floor. Bluiett’s lack of athleticism shows up on the defensive end, but he knows where to be. The Cavs need shooting desperately, maybe Bluiett can provide some competition on the margins of the roster.
Matt Ryan
Along with Bluiett, basketball Matt Ryan was a three point sniper (48.1% on nearly seven attempts per game) for the Cavs’ Summer League. And while he wasn’t the playmaker Bluiett was on offense, Ryan showed he can actually play some defense, with a 2.1% steal rate and 16.1% defensive rebound rate. There’s no reason why Ryan couldn’t compete against the likes of Mfiondu Kabengele or Brodric Thomas with the shooting Ryan brings.
Mfiondu Kabengele and Brodric Thomas
Both Kabengele and Thomas played tough, active, NBA quality defense in Summer League, but both guys struggled to produce anything on the offensive end. The most puzzling thing about both Kabengele and Thomas is that they arguably took a step back in Summer League. Kabengele was a turnover machine (16.1% turnover rate) and Thomas couldn’t buy a bucket (.426 TS%). Fedor claimed that Thomas’ being one of the two ways was a forgone conclusion, which is a questionable decision given his redundancy with Lamar Stevens. Why not take a shot with Ryan or Bluiett for some shooting?
And… that’s a wrap for the Summer League Player Reviews! The NBA has scheduled the start of training camps on September 28th.
Interesting article and a good post.
I have always thought trying to have one stat that measures a player’s overall impact to ne overly reductive. Widen the lens and then make a judgment on a multiple factors.
A very nice attempt via RAPM here, though.
Over the last 25, I’d agree that LeBron is the best and Kobe is overrated, but he was better than RAPM suggests. Duncan is top 10 for me so that validates that.
love matrix theory
https://twitter.com/EdKupfer/status/1428819199233777665?s=20
Fully expected the Lakers to be right at the top. Someone must have made a mistake.
@ NOMAD and Nate
Just took a look at the college stats for Ryan, couple of things stand out.
He can shoot the crap out of the ball, and he played a lot of big time college basketball at ND and Vandy.
His defense is questionable at best… probably just struggles to keep up athletically at the highest level.
That said, still think he deserves a chance to compete against Thomas and Kabengele for the end of the roster spots…. I also wonder if there was an injury thing that he’s recovered from.
BUCKAROOO——-STILL IN THE BUCKEYE STATE—–WILL TRAVEL TO “BANJO ” COUNTRY 1ST OF OCTOBER —–WILL HEED YOUR ADVICE AND “KEEP MY CHUCK TAYLOR’S ON ” :-)
CHECKED RYANS COLLEGE STATS OUT —-SOMEWHAT OF ROLLER COASTER RIDE FROM 3 PT LAND —-BUT HIS FREE THROW % IS AROUND 90 % WHICH MEANS HE HAS A GOOD / CONSISTENT STROKE / I WOULD TAKE A CHANCE ON HIM
BUCK YOU ARE NOT A BAD PERSON –( YOU DRINK BEER AND WEAR CHUCK TAYLOR’S DON’T YOU )—-REST OF THE WORLD NEEDS TO “CATCH ” UP WITH YOU :-)
Put me in the group of seeing Matt Ryan having more upside than most of these guys. Ryan was BOMBING threes and had no problem stepping into his sweet sweet stroke. Dude looks like a real late bloomer and frankly shoots with a lot more confidence than Dean Wade (not as athletic).
Matt’s college stats are weird and I’m not even sure what he did last year, as his last college year was at 2020.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/matt-ryan-1.html
why am i loving the dennis schroeder story.. turned down 84 million from Lakers and signed for 5+ with celtics. am i a bad person ? i haven’t laughed this hard in quite a while.. thx dennis..
no. always love it when that happens!
And thanks Russ. Noone saw it coming, but when you place a bet the outcome is by definition not assured. Now he just has to do it all again, this time in BOS.
Nice write up, Chris.
Agree 100% on Thomas. Why is he a lock for anything?
Thanks Jason as always!
IDK re: Thomas, it has to be because he has actual NBA athleticism and defensive chops. The Cavs probably think all he has to figure out is his jumper, whereas Ryan and Bluiett are most likely not athletic enough for the NBA in spite of having shooting touch.
but the large disparity in Thomas’ play compared to Ryan or Bluiett this summer is enough that there should be at least competition for that two way spot.
Exactly. Plus, you don’t have to be a great athlete to be a good team defender. If your coach does not suck, you can scheme or shade guys. Understand who you are guarding, what you want to deny/allow, and make your rotations.
Assuming both guys want to defend, I will take the smart guy with limited athletcism over the athlete with limited smarts.
Yup, anticipation and length can go a long way defensively!
Kyle Korver
FROM WHAT I HAVE READ—-LISTENED TO HIS INTERVIEWS—-HIGH QUALITY KID —YES AGREE HE WILL STRUGGLE AT TIMES THIS YEAR–( AS MOST ROOKIES DO ) AND WILL BE OVERMATCHED AT TIMES —-BELIEVE WE WILL SEE HIS REAL VALUE IN YEAR 3 WHEN HE PUTS ON WEIGHT/ MUSCLE/ GETS A FEEL FOR THE NBA GAME ——-LIKE I POSTED WHEN ICE WAS PLAYING–” LOOKED LIKE A MAN AMONGST BOYS ” LIKE WHAT I SAW FROM HIM
NOMAD bro.. have you safely emerged from banjo country ? or are you still sleeping with your chuck taylor’s on ?
Analyzing summer league is a no-win proposition; if a guy is awesome, its prefaced with “it was just summer league” and same goes if a guy looks lost. That being said, I was a little underwhelmed with Mobley. The shooting was poor, his body isn’t quite ready (i worry about injuries until he gets stronger) and he looked generally passive. Obviously year 1 (and even 2) is going to tough for a young big, so hopefully in 2023 this comment looks asinine. Things I liked – very mobile, feel for the game (via passing) and obviously his length and (alleged)… Read more »
Mobley had some really nice moments in the limited time we got to see him. I think it’s fair to expect he’s going to have long stretches his first year where, unless he’s grabbing offensive rebounds, he is going to be invisible on that side of the court. The speed of the game, and length of the season are take awhile to adjust to. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch his development over the long haul; but in the short term there could to be a lot of frustrated fans.
yep 100% agree. I think the fanbase (at least I) was feeling themselves quite a bit after the draft that this guy is going to put us back on track– and while he very well may deliver. It won’t be until year three.
If Bosh is a “best case” comp his first winning year (positive BPM) was year three.
Regardless, enjoy the journey!!
yup, agree with both of you guys.
no questions about Evan’s character, soft spoken, good guy… comes from a very caring, compassionate family.
My prediction is that the Cavs will make a couple moves over the next couple seasons that will significantly change the shape of this team. They always seemed to be positioned to be an active partner in multi-team trades, and generally walk out of those with more value coming in than going out. I bet we see something similar to the Allen/Prince trade… After that, I would not be surprised to see something major that shakes up the core.
GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS CLF——-HANDS VS RYAN WILL BE TOUGH CHOICE FOR CAVS—-CAVS MIGHT LEAN TOWARDS HANDS JUST BASED ON “HOPEFUL OPTIMISM THAT HIS POTENTIAL SURFACES “——-MAN I WISH STEVENS COULD HIT A JUMP SHOT AT A SOMEWHAT CONSISTENT BASIS / HE HAS ALL THE OTHER TOOLS —–WAS HOPING FOR CABINJELLY S POTENTIAL TO FINALLY SURFACE / NADA —–GO SIGN HARD ROCK ——-LIKE RAOUL SAID COULD BE —” GOOD HANDS/ HARD ROCK ” COMBO
thanks NOMAD!
yeah ironic that they could’ve just extended the QO to Hartenstein, but now they’re looking for a backup center???? Hopefully it was a case of just trying to do right by Hard Rock and his agent.
They’re looking for a backup center? That makes no sense.
Indeed, but that’s what Fedor’s source said I believe in the linked article.
Not sure why Hands some sort of favorite. Yeah, he was a HS prospect, but hasn’t proven anything in the NBA. I’d take Ryan over him any day.
It’s the value of the skill, getting to the paint off the dribble and creating is probably the most sought after skill in the NBA.
Outside of that, totally agree… I just don’t think Hands is good enough at it to justify not taking chances on cheap shooting.