Rockets: 3 reasons why Evan Mobley could be the Rockets’ savior

The 2020-21 season has been a long one for the Houston Rockets. Since the opening tip in December, the Rockets have seen James Harden traded, and their future franchise corner stone, Christian Wood, suffer injuries that have resulted in a 13-game losing streak.

In short, the Houston Rockets seem rudderless with no end in sight.

3 reasons why Evan Mobley can be the Houston Rockets’ savior

However, as is the case with every team at the bottom of the league, the upcoming NBA draft presents a glimmer of hope. Hitting a home run with a high draft pick can turn the fortunes of a franchise around overnight.

For the Rockets, Evan Mobley could be that home run draft pick that could immensely improve the state of the franchise and cement the Rockets’ future. Here are three reasons why Mobley and the Rockets would make for a perfect match.

Next: No. 3

3. Success in Pick-and-Roll

Long gone are the days when the traditional big man dominated the league.

However, with the rise of Joel Embiid into MVP conversation, centers with versatile skillsets are starting to become more and more of a commodity.

Enter Evan Mobley, the freshman big man from the University of Southern California. Coming in at 7-feet tall, Mobley has all of the physical gifts necessary to become a prototypical NBA center.

And to top it off, Mobley has proven that he has the skills to back up his natural gifts as well. Looking at his offensive game, he shows flashes of exceptional skill.

In the pick-and-roll, Mobley has the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim. Additionally, Mobley has shown a willingness to try to become a pick-and-pop threat.

This year at USC, he is shooting about 32 percent from three on one attempt per game. These are not impressive numbers at face value, but Mobley at least is illustrating that he intends to continue to integrate perimeter shooting into his game.

Additionally, he is also shooting 70 percent from the free throw line, an indicator that he has above-average shooting touch for a big man. If Mobley continues to develop his outside shot, he should be able to grow in to a versatile pick-and-roll threat in the NBA.

Next: No. 2

2. Passing

Mobley also shows promise in his passing ability. As an NBA center, the most frequent passes that one is going to be asked to make are kick out passes to the perimeter when the defense collapses.

Mobley has exhibited that he is able to these passes on a consistent basis. More exciting though, is his ability to find cutters in the post.

For a Houston Rockets team specifically, Mobley’s passing would be a tremendous boost, as coach Stephen Silas emphasizes ball movement in his offensive philosophy, which is much different from his predecessor Mike D’Antoni.  The Rockets rank third in 3-point attempts, and having a skilled passing big man could do wonders for the Rockets’ long-range shooting efficiency, as he could find the open shooter when he’s in the post.

Whether they be coming from the perimeter, or are fellow big men diving to the rim, Mobley has the vision and timing to make easy shots for his teammates. At the next level, Mobley’s passing ability will be an asset to any team.

Next: No. 1

1. Defense

Where Mobley shines the most however, is on defense.

As a 7-footer, Mobley has the length to bother nearly every shot, and the lateral quickness to keep up with many perimeter players.

In the playoffs, much is often made of drop coverage centers being “unplayable” due to their inability to stay with guards on the perimeter when they get caught in a switch. Mobley’s skillset ensures that switching will never be a concern for the team that is lucky enough to draft him.

Mobley is already a defensive force to be reckoned with, and once he puts on enough muscle to bang around with the strongest big men of the league, he will become a versatile defender with Defensive Player of the Year potential, giving the Houston Rockets a defensive force in the middle.

Potential Drawback

If there was an area where Mobley needs to improve most on the offensive end, it’s in the post. Coming in at only 210 pounds, Mobley has a rather thin frame, making it difficult for him to back down his man in the post.

Scouts are going to almost universally recommend that Mobley put on muscle. This is a common concern for many young big men, and Mobley will surely get stronger as he gets on the right NBA strength and conditioning program.

And despite his room for improvement, Mobley does show some signs of future potential as a post player. In flashes, he has shown excellent footwork and shooting touch on his hook shot.

If Mobley is able to put on the muscle necessary to matchup with the stronger centers in the league, he will certainly become at least a post threat that every team must at least respect, and a dominant force for the Houston Rockets.