Unlocking Mobley could define Atkinson’s legacy

Entering year four, the time is now for Evan Mobley’s offensive ascension

The Cleveland Cavaliers finally decided on their next head coach, hiring former Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson. The well-traveled Atkinson will go from one high-pressure situation to another, this time as the leading man on the sidelines as opposed to an assistant in the Bay Area. The hire makes a lot of sense in several ways, from Atkinson’s relationships with Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert to his “pace and space” style that the Cavs need. But Atkinson could define his tenure in Cleveland by turning Evan Mobley into the multi-tooled offensive weapon that the Cavs envisioned when they selected him with the third-overall pick in 2021.

Atkinson has a history of turning bigs, like Al Horford and Brook Lopez, into shooters. When he was an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks, Atkinson was instrumental in getting Horford to take a few steps back from midrange and try a three-pointer. Horford went from less than one three-pointer per game in 2014-15 to more than three attempts the next season.

Lopez’s transformation is even more apparent. Prior to Atkinson being named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2016, Lopez never attempted more than 14 three-pointers in a season. After the hire? Lopez attempted 387 threes in 2016-17. That trend continued when Lopez was on the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.

Now with the Cavs, Atkinson should be trying to do the same magic with Mobley. The 23-year-old is already ahead of the curve compared to Horford and Lopez in terms of being willing to take a few threes, but there needs to be a bigger emphasis. The Cavs witnessed the single-big lineups work well in the regular season and the playoffs when there was a shooter next to the center (in most cases, Dean Wade).

Should the Cavs try to continue the two-big structure, Mobley will have to be more of a shooter. Not just one or two three-pointers per game, but four to five. This must go beyond a tweak, but be a transformational change. Atkinson has shown the ability to turn a shooting-averse big into a true stretchy big. To elevate the Cavs’ ceiling, he will have to make it a priority with Mobley.

“He’s so multi-talented”, Atkinson said during his introductory press conference. “I think we can schematically get the ball in his hands more, in multiple ways,” Atkinson continued. “It could be him in transition bringing the ball up, handling in a five-out situation, handling a pick and roll. There's some creative things we can do.”

“Just his general usage, I think, can go up and we have to figure out the best positions to put him in.”

Atkinson didn’t say directly that Mobley would shoot more, but it will undoubtedly be a part of the plan. Having Mobley in an inverted pick and roll or taking the ball up the floor to make plays improves the spacing, but it isn’t the same as shooting. Nevertheless, spacing is essential in today’s NBA. Spacing allows for clearer lanes to the basket for Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, keeps defenses honest when guarding certain players, and prevents opponents from simply stacking the paint. Force opposing defenses to care about Mobley on the perimeter as either a shooter or facilitator and the offense could look a lot more open next season.

Getting the most out of Mobley could be the defining moment of Atkinson’s tenure with the Cavs. Former head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talked about making the offense “transformational”, but it never really materialized last season. It was more of the same from the year prior, high pick-and-roll and letting Mitchell do his thing if nothing materialized. Atkinson has the opportunity to do something special by unlocking the true offensive potential of Mobley, and the Cavs in the process.