The Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites in the Eastern Conference by default heading into next season. If they want to be confident at making a run at the NBA Finals, they will need a leap forward from one player in particular: Evan Mobley.
The Cavaliers went from mid-tier East playoff team to 64-win juggernaut last season. A new head coach in Kenny Atkinson modernized the offense, Ty Jerome had a breakout year and other players made significant contributions, but the biggest on-court change that drove the improvement was the ascension of Evan Mobley.
The fourth-year big man had been a defensive difference-maker from day one, but his offense came around in a major way last year.