Jarrett Allen, the 6-foot-11 center currently making up a fourth of Cleveland’s young core, has seen his name mentioned in trade rumors far more than any other Cavalier this off-season. But how likely is it that he’ll actually be moved? And what kind of return could the Cavaliers see? Here’s a look at Jarrett Allen’s Value on the Market and in Cleveland.
Multiple teams have shown an interest in acquiring Allen. These teams include the Raptors, Hawks and most notably the Mavericks (who offered Tim Hardaway Jr. and a first round pick to no avail).
Other teams who are in need of a center, and who have the pieces in place to make a trade, include the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Washington Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Possible returns from these teams could include Kyle Kuzma (Washington), P.J. Washington and/or Gordon Hayward (Charlotte) and Larry Nance Jr. and/or Isaiah Stewart (New Orleans), who would all certainly help the Cavaliers address some of their biggest weaknesses going into next season.
Because Allen is a former all star at such a young age (25) it must be considered that Cleveland will end up holding onto him. The Cavs did go 51-31 last season and reached the postseason as a four seed, a concrete step forward compared to the previous season. He also trails Mitchell by just a year as the oldest member of Cleveland’s core four, meaning he is (theoretically) only just entering his prime.
This being said, however, he did see his numbers drop slightly this season. Scoring about two less points, grabbing one less board, shooting about three percentage points lower from the field and increasing his defensive rating by almost two points, the only stat he saw improve was his games played (68 games played compared to 56 in the 2021-22 season). This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. He’s playing alongside a player in Evan Mobley who is pegged to be the future face of the franchise and is coming off an All-NBA first defensive team season. This means it would be expected that his numbers would certainly drop in lieu of favoring the development of this new player, right?
While Mobley is getting the chance to both show what he can do now and improve on the areas he needs work, it’s not drastically affecting Allen’s game. In fact Cleveland actually saw a drop in their defensive rating from two seasons ago to last, dropping from 109.7 in 2021-22 to 107.3 in 2022-23, meaning they’ve only gotten better defensively.
Another interesting aspect to consider is the usage rate of Mobley with and without Allen on the floor. Usage rate describes the amount of plays in which a particular player is used. With Allen on the floor Mobley had a usage rate of 20.8 percent, and a usage rate of 18.5 percent without Allen on the floor. This means that Mobley was actually used more when playing with Allen than when playing without him, proving that Allen is not statistically or organizationally hindering Mobley’s development. The same might not be able to be said for whoever is brought into the team.
It also has to be considered that Allen’s value to other teams may not be the same as it is in Cleveland. With players like Christian Wood, Bismack Biyombo, and Serge Ibaka all currently still free agents, it makes it less likely that other teams will trade for their missing center rather than sign a free agent to fill the roster spot. Why lose assets if you don’t have to?
Allen’s name is being tossed around in trade rumors more than any other Cavalier. The idea that he’ll be traded, though, is still speculative. Sure big needs could be addressed by moving the starting big man, but Allen’s potential upside makes moving on from him an uncertainty. As does the slew of unsigned centers and current Cleveland team dynamic. Allen’s Value on the Market and in Cleveland are two separate things, and it’s fair to say he might be traded, but don’t be surprised if Cleveland rolls out the same core in their pursuit of their second NBA championship.
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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com
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