2022 NBA Rookie of the Year odds: Cavaliers' Evan Mobley heavily favored, will win award barring injury

While the NBA is starting the "second half" of its season Thursday, most teams only have about 24 of their 82 regular-season games remaining coming out of the All-Star break. Thus, it's probably fair to say that Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, is going to win Rookie of the Year honors as he's the clear-cut -400 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook.

Mobley would become the third Cavaliers player to win Rookie of the Year, joining guys named LeBron James (2004) and Kyrie Irving (2012). They were No. 1 overall picks, however. Mobley could be the third No. 3 overall pick to win the honors in the past four seasons, joining Charlotte's LaMelo Ball (2021) and Dallas' Luka Doncic (2019 – drafted by Atlanta but then traded immediately).

Mobley is certainly a big reason the Cavs are a surprising 35-23 and fourth in the East after finishing 22-50 last season and way out of the playoff field. The 7-foot Mobley is averaging 14.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 blocks in his 50 games – he did miss time earlier with a sprained elbow. Cleveland is +3.9 per 100 possessions when Mobley is on the court and -0.5 when he's not.

The former Southern Cal star leads all rookies in blocks per game, rebounds per game, shooting percentage (.503) and is second in double-doubles (13) and third in points per game. His 82 total blocks are the most by a Cavs rookie since 1997-98 (Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 135). Last season, the Cavs weren't a very good defensive team in allowing 112.3 ppg, but they are No. 1 this year at 102.5 because Mobley and fellow 7-footer Jarrett Allen are protecting the paint/rim.

While it plays no role on his Rookie of the Year voting, Mobley and teammates Allen and Darius Garland were victorious in the Skills Challenge over All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.

"I mean, he's literally a unicorn. Seven-footer, 20-year-old that can do everything," Garland said after that win.

Detroit took Cade Cunningham No. 1 overall in the draft and he's a +850 second-favorite on this prop along with Toronto's Scottie Barnes, who went No. 4. One fast riser has been sudden triple-double machine Josh Giddey of Oklahoma City (+1000), an Aussie who went No. 6. Houston's Jalen Green, the No. 2 overall pick, is +12500.

It's way too early to say that the Pistons or Rockets blew it by not taking Mobley No. 1 but if there were a redraft right now, he'd probably be the choice. Mobley and the Cavs open the second half at Cunningham and the Pistons on Thursday. Cleveland will be without Garland and fellow guard Caris LeVert, which has dropped the spread a few points. 

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