With four months to go before the start of the 2022-23 NBA season, the biggest thing the Cleveland Cavaliers have going for them is their youth.
In Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, they possess two game-changing young stars, and Jarrett Allen gives them another key young player who made his first All-Star team this season.
The thing with young players is that they have upside, but they leave fans wanting more and expecting more from them because of that upside.
These two players are men who Cavs fans want more production from but should be able and willing to provide just that starting this fall.
Collin Sexton
It is not a certainty that the Cavs will give Sexton a new contract this summer, but if they do, he is someone who greatly disappointed this year.
Coming off a great 2021 campaign, Sexton looked to have a shot at perhaps being an All-Star in 2022, but his season was derailed by a torn meniscus he suffered in early November.
He only played in a total of 11 contests this season and averaged 16.0 points a game, but in 2021, he posted impressive averages of 24.3 points and 4.4 assists a game.
A healthy and re-signed Sexton would be a big boon to Cleveland’s hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since LeBron James’ second departure.
He shot at least 37.1 percent from 3-point range in each of his first three seasons, which means he will help the Cavs with one of their biggest needs – outside shooting.
They also ranked just 25th in points per game, which is something they desperately need to improve on next year, and Sexton will help boost that average to a more respectable number than 107.8 a game, which is what they averaged this year.
The Cavs just need to make sure Sexton is fully healthy and that he has no after-effects from his injury.
Luckily, he has just been cleared to participate in full basketball activities again.
The Collin Sexton rehab appears to be going well 👀 #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/qCAYSCduEq
— betJACK (@betJACK) June 20, 2022
Evan Mobley
At first glance, Mobley may not fit the category of “player Cavs fans expect more from next season,” but when one thinks about it, he absolutely does.
Mobley tickled Cavs fans this season with his ability to handle the ball, create his own shot, finish high above the rim, run the floor and defend at a high level.
HBD @EvanMobley
Some of his best rookie gms
30 PTS, 59% FG
29 PTS, 12 REB
26 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST
22 PTS, 12 REB, 5 STL
19 PTS (12 in 4th), 9 REB
16 PTS, 9 REB, 5 BLK, 73% FG
15 PTS, 10 REB, 7 AST, 78% FG📼 @DUNKC0MP pic.twitter.com/fL4UJvkrox
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 18, 2022
People around the league have been so impressed with Mobley that they predict stardom from him, and some even expect him to become a facsimile of Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar big man, or even Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett.
When a rookie does the type of things Mobley did this year and averages 15.0 points on over 50 percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, fans will have sky-high expectations for him.
He certainly needs to get better at hitting bunnies from outside of about three feet and develop a respectable perimeter shot, but once he does, he can become a nightmare for the rest of the NBA.
Maybe Mobley won’t make the All-Star team as soon as next season, but if he approaches of even surpasses 20 points per game, he will make Cavs fans very happy, as well as excited for the immediate future.
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