Opinion: Cavs Still Need To Address This Position On Roster

The Evan Mobley injury has made it clear that the Cleveland Cavaliers need another rim protector on their roster.

Fans and analysts were quick to identify one of the biggest problems with the Cleveland Cavaliers roster after the New York Knicks eliminated them from the playoffs last spring. The Cavs weren't big enough or strong enough in the paint to compete with New York's size.

Addressing the frontcourt was something that should've been high on the front office's offseason to-do list. They did bring in Damian Jones and Tristan Thompson but the lack of frontcourt depth is still a major flaw for the Cavs.

This has especially been made clear with Evan Mobley going down and being sidelined for up to another month. 

The Cavs have now played nine games without Mobley and have outrebounded their opponent in five of those games. The two games in which they really struggled were against the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans who have plenty of size compared to Cleveland.

Their struggles against these two teams could be a precursor for what is to come when the Cavaliers play opponents such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors in the coming days. 

One of the biggest problems with the lack of big men on the roster is how teams have been able to attack the basket. Opponents are shooting 52% on shots in the paint ever since Mobley went down with his knee injury.

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Mobley is an All-Defensive team-type player so it’s very difficult to replace his production. Plus, relying on Jarrett Allen to always be the one to stop the drive has put him in foul trouble the last number of games. 

All of this makes it clear that the Cavs need to add another rim protector to the roster even with a healthy Mobley.

Cleveland has done a tremendous job forging a new team identity ever since Darius Garland and Mobley went down with injuries. They've won four of their last five games since the news broke and it's been inspiring to watch them on the floor.

However, as the season moves on and we get closer to the trade deadline, I think Koby Altman needs to seriously considering adding another post player.