CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the Locked On Cavs podcast in the video player above is from July 7.
The NBA has released its annual survey of general managers across the league, and the Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves mentioned a couple of times. Each of the NBA’s general managers was asked to respond to 48 different questions ranging from predicting who will win the NBA Finals to what rules need to be changed with just about everything in between.
The Cavaliers were mentioned in the answers to just two of the 48 questions, but they were both done in a positive manner.
Cleveland has done its best to amass a young core of talented players to build around since LeBron James left for Los Angeles following the 2018 NBA Finals. That group includes Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, and most recently, the No. 3 overall pick Evan Mobley. On the survey, there were a few questions pertaining to this year’s rookie class, and Mobley was the pick for the one that should make Cavs fans happiest.
While Mobley did not receive votes as a potential winner of the 2021-22 Rookie of the Year award, he was the leading vote-getter for a question that asked which player from this year’s rookie class will be the best player five years from now. Mobley received 33 percent of the vote, edging out No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham (Detroit) and No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green (Houston).
Last year, Golden State’s James Wiseman led the way with 36 percent of the vote, while Cavs forward Isaac Okoro finished fifth with seven percent of the vote. Two years ago, New Orleans big man Zion Williamson garnered 68 percent of the votes while Cavs guard Darius Garland finished in also receiving votes category for the same question.
Speaking of Garland, he was mentioned in a different category this year, as one of the players general managers across the league expect to have a breakout season. The third-year point guard finished tied for fourth, receiving seven percent of the vote. He was tied with Memphis’ Ja Morant, San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson, and former Cavs teammate and current Houston swingman Kevin Porter Jr.
The full 2021-22 NBA general manager survey can be found here.