Cavs GM Eyes Increased Evan Mobley Role After Playoff Loss to Pacers, 'We Need More'

Following their 4-1 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cleveland Cavaliers are aiming to expand power forward Evan Mobley’s role moving forward.

"We're going to go as a franchise as Evan is going to go. And we've had that conversation with Evan," Koby Altman, president of basketball operations for the Cavaliers, told reporters. "In the playoffs, we need more. We need more than 13 field goal attempts per game -- that's new for Evan. There's another jump. And so to that point, Kenny's going to be able to implement his offseason program, which we're very excited about. And we're going to see some internal growth there, and we think we have one of the best big men in the game in Evan Mobley."

Mobley appeared in eight of the Cavaliers' nine playoff games, missing Game 2 against the Pacers with an ankle injury, and averaged 32.1 minutes per contest.

The 2025 Defensive Player of the Year anchored Cleveland on defense, but the team is now pushing for him to evolve into more of an offensive weapon. While Mobley has shown strong efficiency when he does shoot, the Cavs want him to be more aggressive with the ball in his hands.

He averaged 13 shot attempts per game during the regular season and just 11 in the postseason, despite posting 18.5 points per game in the regular season and 17.1 in the playoffs.

If Mobley increases his volume, the Cavaliers believe he could become a true two-way force and one of the league’s most complete big men.