The Cleveland Cavaliers tendered a two-way qualifying offer to Cavs and Cleveland Charge forward Isaiah Mobley on Thursday, according to a tweet from Spotrac contributor Keith Smith.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers have tendered a two-way qualifying offer to Isaiah Mobley, a league source tells @spotrac,” Smith wrote. “Mobley will now be a restricted free agent on July 1.”
Mobley, who was selected with the No. 49 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, signed with Cleveland on a two-way contract last July. He played in 32 games for the Cleveland Charge between the G League’s regular season and its Winter Showcase, or the “NBA G League’s annual in-season scouting event,” according to the G League’s website. He averaged 21.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per game for a Charge squad that went 18-14 last regular season.
Mobley earned a spot on the G League’s All-Showcase team in December. He would join Memphis Hustle forward Kenneth Lofton Jr., Oklahoma City Blue guard Tre Mann, Fort Wayne Mad Ants guard Terry Taylor and Ontario Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr.
The former USC forward saw time in 13 games for the Cavaliers last season. His time with the Cavs’ roster was highlighted by an 18-point, four-rebound performance against the Orlando Magic in April. Mobley pushed, cut and dunked his way to seven made field goal attempts, adding on three steals and two blocks as Cleveland took a 118-94 victory in the Amway Center.
“He is a very good rotational piece on a team,” Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said in a postgame press conference following the win. “He’s even better with better players. He just has a knack for the game, an understanding for the game. He’s continued to work on his shooting, he’s improved in that area. But, similar to Evan (Mobley), they have elite IQs and have a high understanding of the game.
“Credit to their pops for teaching the game the right way. They understand it. They get it.”