Overview
- Donovan Mitchell told hosts on the Cousins podcast that he expects Evan Mobley to “take the jump” and become an even more impactful two-way star next season.
- Mitchell also hinted he is incorporating a new offensive element into his game and recently signed a reported four-year, $273 million extension to stay in Cleveland.
- The Cavaliers have kept their core of Mitchell, Mobley, James Harden and Jarrett Allen intact heading into the 2026–27 season.
- A Fear The Sword / SB Nation fan survey found nearly 60% of respondents expect two Cavs All-Stars and about 21% expect three or more, while FanDuel lists Cleveland roughly eighth in title odds.
- The outlook balances optimism and work to do: Mobley is a recent Defensive Player of the Year who averaged roughly 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.74 blocks last season, yet Cleveland was swept in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals and still needs improvements to be a top title favorite.