Cavaliers' Evan Mobley named Defensive Player of the Year

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Evan Mobley was a big winner in more ways than one Thursday night.

For starters, the fourth-year forward was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, after taking a significant individual leap this season as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' ascension to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

But, by winning that honor, Mobley -- who also is expected to be an All-NBA selection sometime over the next couple of weeks -- also ensured that the max rookie contract extension he signed last summer will go up by roughly $45 million over the next five years, turning it into a five-year, $269 million pact.

"I mean, it definitely was a goal of mine coming into this year, I…