Cup of Cavs: Mobley’s extension is a big win

Cavs news and links for Monday, July 22.

Fear the Sword’s weekday news and links post, Cup of Cavs, is coming back. The goal is to provide a place for the community to catch up and react to the latest basketball news.

I’m also adding a “Random Cavalier of the Day” segment. I’m generating a number between one and 451 and choosing the corresponding Cavalier on this list. Hopefully, that adds something odd to look forward to.

The first sip

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly finalized Evan Mobley’s five-year extension over the weekend. Locking up someone who has already shown to be a Defensive Player of the Year finalist while flashing some offensive upside is a huge win. The Cavs, and the success of Kenny Atkinson, are tied to Mobley’s development.

It’s been a frustrating summer in many ways. There’s been no offseason additions, outside of Jaylon Tyson, to fill the holes on the roster. The same problems that plagued the Cavs throughout the past two seasons will still be there. At the same time, they locked up their two most important players, Mobley and Donovan Mitchell, through at least the 2026-27 season.

The Cavs had to find a new coach and extend their two best players this offseason. They’ve checked all those boxes nicely. They have the foundation of a team that can compete now and into the immediate future. Whether or not they do will be dependent on how the rest of the roster shakes out.

Random Cavalier of the Day - Jaron Blossomgame

Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images

Blossomgame played 27 games for the Cavs in 2018-19 after being signed to a two-way deal. His 114 points for Cleveland places him 281st in franchise history one behind Brodric Thomas and two ahead of Semih Erden.

Blossomgame’s career-high of 15 points came in a 110-99 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 19, 2018. Jordan Clarkson led the team in scoring while Collin Sexton, Rodney Hood, David Nwaba, Cedi Osman, and Larry Nance Jr. were the Cavs’ starters. The loss brought Cleveland’s record to 8-24.

This is what Chris Manning had to say about Blossomgame after this game.

I have no idea if Blossomgame is going to stick around when he eventually runs out of days on his two-way deal. But he plays really hard, defends and contributes when he’s on the floor. And he hit three three-pointers in this one. He’s kind of a useful player, maybe?

I also had this weird take. I’m not sure what prompted this.

Blossomgame was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 59th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He never played a game in the NBA for them and was waived by San Antonio before the 2018-19 season. He signed with the Houston Rockets in 2019 after not being re-signed by the Cavs. He was cut prior to the 2019-20 season. Blossomgame has been playing internationally since and spent this past season with AS Monaco in France.

Basketball on today

• US men’s national team vs. Germany - 3 PM on FOX
• Las Vegas Summer League Final - 8 PM on ESPN

Cavs links

• What we learned from Summer League
• Evan Mobley signs contract extension
• Jaylon Tyson finishes Summer League with a bang

Links of the day

• ‘I’m on vacation!’ With no Olympics spot, Caitlin Clark finally gets some time off
• Alex Sarr had the worst NBA Summer League game ever for a top rookie
• NBA’s 10 best free agents still unsigned
• Team USA is tearing through tune-up games. What has stood out?