Evan Mobley

Jarrett Allen is paired with Donovan Mitchell again in Cleveland, recalling being told they had "the number 1 pick and roll in the NBA." He called Evan Mobley and James Harden "an incredible pairing": Harden driving and lobbing to Mobley, or Mobley handling off Harden's screen.

Cleveland has reshuffled its guard-big pairings in preseason: James Harden now plays with Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell with Jarrett Allen. Mitchell said coach Kenny Atkinson and the players agreed it together. "I think it allows for James and Ev to grow a connection."

Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell are "kind of the backup point guards for each other," Kenny Atkinson said, so the Cavaliers' backup spot "doesn't necessarily have to be a point guard." How to split them with James Harden and Jarrett Allen: "we haven't decided yet."

Cavaliers 2/4 Atkinson wants more Cleveland playmakers beyond James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, urging Jaylon Tyson and Peyton Watson to be more aggressive. He also won't force-feed Evan Mobley isolations as early last season; Mobley does best in the system's flow.

Cavaliers 1/2 Evan Mobley said Cleveland is changing some defensive roles and how it defends with Peyton Watson on the floor, though his own job is "pretty much similar to last year." The stated goal: a top-five defense, with rebounding and physicality the areas to raise.

Cavaliers 2/2 Evan Mobley said he spent the summer on his offense, studying Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon: "Offensively I gotta simplify my game." Paired with his defense, he said, "I'm going to be one of the best players."

Sam Merrill at Cavaliers practice: Peyton Watson on the wing with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen is "a lot of length and something we haven't totally had," which may let Cleveland pressure less yet still force turnovers. He also backed more playmaking from Allen and Mobley.