Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley has not played since Jan. 26 against the Orlando Magic due to a calf injury. He sustained a strained left calf in that game and was projected to be sidelined for one to three weeks.
Mobley has missed seven straight games as a result, although the Cavaliers have done well even without him, going 6-1 in that span.
Obviously, it has been over three weeks since Mobley got injured. Fortunately for the Cavs, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year was right on schedule with his recovery.
On Thursday morning, the Cavs released their injury report for their game against the Brooklyn Nets. Mobley was not on the list, signifying that he is fully recovered and should be available to play.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Mobley's return should make the Cavaliers an even more dangerous team. Amid his absence, Jarrett Allen has anchored the paint for Cleveland, averaging 22.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in their past seven games.
The 24-year-old big man was putting up 17.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game prior to his injury.
What will be interesting to see is how Mobley fares alongside the new-look Cavaliers.
It's worth noting that the Cavs were one of the most active teams prior to the trade deadline. They made one of the biggest moves, trading for superstar guard James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Cleveland sent All-Star guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick in the deal, but in return, acquired a savvy veteran who they hope can help elevate them during the playoffs.
The Cavs also traded for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, adding backcourt depth while also improving their offense and defense. In the four games that Schroder and Ellis have played for Cleveland, they have a combined average of 12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.1 steals.
The Cavaliers return from the All-Star break boasting a 34-21 record, the fourth-best win-loss tally in the Eastern Conference.
It remains to be seen how Mobley's addition will change their current dynamic, but it's worth noting that the Wine and Gold were riding a four-game winning streak before his injury.
After the Nets, Cleveland plays the Charlotte Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. That's three of the top six teams in the NBA today, so the upcoming stretch will serve as a litmus test of whether the much-improved Cavaliers have what it takes to compete.