Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Arthur Hill | Last updated 7/29/21
The Cavaliers selected USC’s Evan Mobley with the third pick in this year’s draft. The 20-year-old freshman received consideration from the Pistons and Rockets, but he fell to Cleveland at No. 3.
Mobley is considered a blueprint for a modern-day big man because of his ability to protect the rim and switch onto opposing guards as they drive into the lane. The 7-footer averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game during his lone season at USC and helped the Trojans reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.
Mobley earned a number of Pac 12 honors, including Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
NBA Draft News: What Makes Fil-Am Jalen Green An Intriguing Pick For Rebuilding Rockets?
KEY POINTS
The Filipino-American talent entered the NBA via the G League
He joins a core of Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood and John Wall
The NBA Draft is one of the most exciting events for basketball fans as they get to see the future stars of the league.
The Detroit Pistons were gifted with the first overall pick thanks to a 20-win season, which they used to select Cade Cunningham.
Drafting second, the Houston Rockets still had a wealth of talent to select such as big man Evan Mobley from USC, Scottie Barnes from Florida State and Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga.
Just as the Pistons spent the past month learning everything they could about Cade Cunningham, so did the player tabbed nearly universally as the rightful No. 1 pick spend time since the June 22 lottery envisioning himself tugging on a Pistons jersey.
“I love Detroit,” Cunningham, who indeed was drafted No. 1 in Thursday night’s NBA draft, said last week after being hosted by the Pistons for his predraft workout.
“I’ve already been listening to Detroit music way before the draft lottery, any of that stuff. I was already hip to the culture in Detroit. It’s a city that has a lot of things going on. Getting the sports teams rolling again would be huge for the city. If Detroit picks me, that’s the main thing I’m going to try to do is step in and embody the swag that people from Detroit, Michigan walk with.”
NBA G League s Future Forever Tied To Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga s Rookie Year
KEY POINTS
Green was the first high school player to take up the G League s offer
The G League s future will forever be tied to both players careers
The 2021 NBA Draft has seen some budding stars drafted at where they were expected to be.
Cade Cunningham was selected by the Detroit Pistons first overall, and Jalen Green went second to the Houston Rockets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers got their wish at third with Evan Mobley, while Toronto selected Scottie Barnes with the fourth pick.
On the other hand, the Orlando Magic drafted Jalen Suggs to round out the top five.