The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ season ended in a disappointing fashion again.
It’s only right that the fans and media analysts question this team’s outlook for the future, and the harsh truth is that some of the pieces shouldn’t be back next season.
Then again, as much as the core struggled when the team needed them the most, Evan Dammarell believes they need to keep being patient with Evan Mobley.
In his latest column, he gushed about Mobley’s growth this season, adding that he might be the one to take them over the hump at one point:
“Yes, Cleveland failed the final exam this year. But the right pieces are already in place. They just have to believe in their internal growth and be willing to endure a little more pain before the payoff arrives,” Dammarell wrote. “Patience might be hard to preach after another bitter ending. But in [Evan] Mobley, the Cavs have a player worth waiting for and potentially, the one who will lead them to the summit.”
That makes some sense.
Mobley wasn’t as aggressive as one would want in the playoffs, but he was the best player on the team all season long.
The Cavs gave him a big-money deal even when he hadn’t been consistent enough to earn one, and he showed that the investment could pay off.
Granted, they can’t afford to wait for him forever, but they should look to build their team and their offense around him next season to finally see what he’s capable of.
Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Jarrett Allen have a long and well-documented history of postseason struggles.
And while moving all of them – especially Mitchell – might not be easy or even in the plans, all players but Mobley should be considered expendable at this point.
It was a disappointing and bitter end to a once-promising season, but if Mobley takes another leap, they should be right back next year.
NEXT: Insider Shares Worrisome Postseason Trend For Jarrett Allen
