Did the Cavs' Evan Mobley just lose his chance at Rookie of the Year through injury?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have lost yet another player to injury and to make matters worse, it was their Rookie of the Year candidate Evan Mobley.
Though it seems the injury isn't severe, the Cavs are quickly running out wiggle room where injuries are concerned as their roster has been essentially decimated during the season.
Cavs' Evan Mobley latest to be sidelined by injury
On Monday night the Cleveland Cavaliers lost yet another player to injury. This time it was rookie big man Evan Mobley who was forced off of the court in their game against the Orlando Magic with what appeared to be a sprained left ankle. With an injury list that is bordering on extensive the Cavs can at least take solace in the fact that not only did they emerge victorious against the visiting Magic by a score of 107-101, but the resulting X-rays on Mobley's ankle were in fact negative.
Is Evan Mobley Rookie of the Year material?
As the No.3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, Mobley entered the league with a fair share of expectation surrounding him and one could say that he's actually shouldered that burden quite well. With an average of 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, his name has been frequently mentioned in the same conversation as the likes of the Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes and Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham, both of who have been largely tipped for Rookie of the Year honors. Will this latest development derail his hopes? While the sprain was difficult to watch when he appeared to land on Franz Wagner's foot, the initial report is that the injury is not as serious as first thought. With that, the Cavs can only sit and wait at this point as the length of time needed for recovery is yet to be determined.
Where are the Cavs at now?
Though there will be no playoffs for the The Cavaliers this year, they did manage to snap a three-game losing streak as they clinched their first winning season in four years. Indeed, its the first time that Cleveland will finish above .500 since having LeBron James on their roster back in the 1997-98 season. At present the Cavs sit in 7th position in the Eastern Conference with a record of 42-33. If there is one plus that they can count on, its the idea that with their position they are all but assured a high ranking pick in the upcoming NBA draft. That of course will do well to remove the stain that was this season in which their efforts were seriously hindered by injuries.
In case you were wondering, Mobley is the latest addition to an extensive injury list which includes All-Star center Jarrett Allen (left middle finger fracture), Point guard Rajon Rondo (right ankle sprain), shooting guard Collin Sexton (left knee surgery), veteran point guard Ricky Rubio (torn left ACL) and forward Dean Wade (right knee surgery) all of whom are out for the season.