CLEVELAND, Ohio — With key starters sidelined to begin the season, the Wine and Gold Talk podcast examines whether this creates the perfect scenario for two Cavaliers to enter the MVP conversation.

As the Cavs prepare to enter the 2025-26 season without Darius Garland and Max Strus due to injuries, an intriguing subplot has emerged: Could this unfortunate situation actually accelerate the development of the team’s championship core by thrusting both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley into legitimate MVP conversations?

In the latest episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins proposed a fascinating theory about Mitchell’s potential MVP candidacy.

“Here’s a thought for you. Donovan finished fifth in MVP voting last year. … might be the best chance for him to build some MVP buzz in his career,” Watkins said.

With his backcourt partner sidelined to begin the year, Mitchell’s usage rate and statistical production could naturally increase, potentially elevating his MVP case.

However, podcast host Ethan Sands quickly countered with an equally compelling alternative: What if these circumstances create the perfect opportunity for Evan Mobley to make his own MVP leap?

“As much as we’re saying Donovan Mitchell could earn MVP buzz at the beginning of the season, I think this is also a great time for Evan Mobley to earn MVP buzz. As much as [Donovan’s] going to need to get off himself, he should be force feeding Evan Mobley,” Sands argued.

This scenario presents a fascinating strategic dilemma for the Cavaliers.

Mitchell could naturally seize control of the offense and produce the kind of statistical dominance that attracts MVP votes. Or, as Sands suggests, Mitchell could intentionally elevate Mobley by creating opportunities for the young big man, potentially accelerating Mobley’s development into the franchise cornerstone many believe he can become.

Mobley, coming off a Defensive Player of the Year campaign, showed significant offensive growth last season, averaging a career-high 18.5 points per game. But the podcast discussion suggests the Cavaliers might need even more from him to reach their championship potential.

The conversation highlights the delicate balance Cleveland must strike: allowing Mitchell to showcase his superstar talent while simultaneously developing Mobley into the franchise cornerstone they envisioned when drafting him.

Perhaps the most intriguing scenario was proposed by Sands: “Maybe they end up taking votes from each other. That would be the ideal situation, not for them, but for the Cavs as a franchise going into this season.”

Having two players performing at such a high level that they split MVP votes would indeed be a championship-caliber “problem” for Cleveland. It would signify that both stars are firing on all cylinders, creating the kind of two-headed monster few teams could contain.

The early-season absences of Garland and Strus create both a challenge and an opportunity. How Mitchell and Mobley respond could set the tone for the entire season and potentially reshape the trajectory of the franchise.

Will Mitchell embrace his role as the clear alpha and pursue MVP-level production? Will he instead focus on elevating Mobley’s game? Or will both stars find a perfect harmony that pushes each into the MVP conversation?

To hear the full discussion about the Cavaliers’ potential MVP candidates and how early-season injuries might reshape the team’s dynamics, check out the latest episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast.

Here’s the podcast for this week:

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