3 reasons the Houston Rockets should select Evan Mobley in NBA Draft

Houston Rockets should select Evan Mobley in the NBA Draft reason #3: Centers are back

When the Golden State Warriors kicked off their dynasty in 2014 it appeared as if centers were an endangered species. Their death lineup, which featured Draymond Green at center, ran traditional centers off the court and caused the entire NBA to shift their thinking on one of the sport’s most historically dominant positions.

However, instead of centers dying out, they adapted and are now thriving. Joel Embiid refined his offensive game to be able to score from anywhere, Nikola Jokic became the most dominant offensive force in the league through his shooting and facilitating, and Giannis Antekounmpo has bent what it means to even be a center on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Evan Mobley is the new breed of center that can defend in the post and on the perimeter, finish at the rim, shoot from anywhere, and facilitate in the high post. When the Warriors death lineup looked like the asteroid hurtling towards earth that spelled doom for the NBA’s dinosaur, the center, it was in fact the evolutionary push the position needed.

Evan Mobley has all the tools to be the NBA’s next great center, which gives him both a tremendously high ceiling and floor as a player. If his offensive game never becomes elite he can lean on his defense and be a defensive player of the year candidate.

If his shooting and facilitating development reaches a point where he is a number one option on offense, his physical abilities will allow him to be at worst average on defense. Mobley has the most avenues to have an elite contributor, which is why centers are back.

Being tall is still a massive advantage in basketball and Mobley’s combination of height, length, and athleticism give him a shot to be the league’s best center at his peak. The center of the NBA universe is once again the center and the Rockets shouldn’t miss their shot.

Next: Reason #2