Let me know if you have heard this before, Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is generating buzz around the league as a name who could be on the move.
For those who follow the Cavaliers even casually, this should come as just another day in the life. If the Cavaliers’ core four were ever to be split up, Allen has always seemed like the most likely odd man out. Yet, despite the volume of rumors and whispers that have surrounded Allen over the years, Allen has miraculously remained in the Wine and Gold.
If the Cavaliers are the team many think they will be this season, it would be foolish to exchange a player as dependable and durable as Allen for a collection of role players. Finding the “right” group of players for a salary match is near impossible in this salary cap era, never mind finding the exact group of contributors that can even meet the value Allen brings to the floor.
Another reason cited by Mannix in the article is that “most believe (Evan) Mobley’s long-term future is at center.” While Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is fully capable of playing the five, It’s possible that his best fit currently is still playing the four at least in some matchups.
It also needs mentioning that the Cavaliers might not be at full strength around the trade deadline, depending on how Darius Garland and Max Strus come back from their injuries. Working them, and potentially new pieces in from an Allen trade, near the end of the season, would be a difficult task for head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Allen is an NBA iron man, who helps buoy defensive deficiencies by a smaller backcourt and small forward. They could hypothetically send Allen’s talents elsewhere, but staying put is probably the most likely outcome. However, it is more likely that we will have this discussion next offseason, next season, and the season after that, and the one after that.