NBA Insider Reports High Demand for Jarrett Allen in Potential Trades
NBA insider Marc Stein reports that multiple competing teams are eyeing a trade for Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen this offseason. Despite the rumors of frustration in Cleveland about Allen’s refusal to get a pain-killing shot for his rib injury, his popularity has continued, according to Stein.
Stein suggested that the Cavaliers might trade Allen if they can re-sign both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley this summer.
Jarrett Allen scored an average of 17.0 points in four playoff games before getting injured in Game 4 of the opening round. The Cavaliers, lacking players, were knocked out in the second round by the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd, who were previously with The Athletic, stated that there were coaches and players who thought Jarrett Allen “could have made more of an effort to return to playing” after getting injured.
#Cavs center Jarrett Allen has averaged 17.0 points and 13.8 rebounds in four playoff games. On Tuesday, Allen sat at the end of the bench in order to protect his ribs. https://t.co/qRCXKVYep3
— Blade Sports (@toledosports) May 2, 2024
During the regular season, Jarrett Allen continued to be an important player in the Cavaliers’ defense with averages of 16.5 points, 10.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 77 starts.
That will be sufficient to position him as “one of the most sought-after trade prospects in the league for the upcoming offseason,” according to Stein. Jarrett Allen has two years left on his contract with a $20 million cap hit before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026-27 at the age of 28.
Jarrett Allen makes $20 million
The OKC thunder have a projected 102 million committed to salary for 24–25
The projected salary cap is 141 million for 24–25
Essentially, OKC could absorb Allen‘s contract and send only picks if Cleveland decides to salary dump after signing…
— 🏆LakersGuru🏆 (@GuruLakers) May 17, 2024
Meanwhile, Mobley and Mitchell have just one more year of club control left on their existing contracts. The Cavaliers have already activated Mobley’s team option for the 2024-25 season, which amounts to $11.2 million.
Stein has reported that if the Cavaliers and Mitchell cannot agree on an extension before the season, the team will trade the star, who has one season left at $35.4 million and a player option for the 2025-26 season.
Donovan Mitchell is NOT expected to sign a contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer per @WindhorstESPN
— Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) September 21, 2023
On his podcast The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst stated that the Cavaliers are feeling “very optimistic” about extending Mitchell and predicted that the team will offer Mobley a maximum extension in the upcoming summer.
Despite both players being under contract, the Cavaliers may seek to make adjustments following the core’s disappointment in the playoffs. That may lead to a possible Mitchell trade. Jarrett Allen was linked to the New Orleans Pelicans, a team that Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer said was interested in the veteran center this season. Should Jonas Valančiūnas decide to leave in free agency, the Pelicans might require a new starting center and could be a logical trade candidate.
There are “numerous” rival teams that are interested in trading for Jarrett Allen, per @TheSteinLine. pic.twitter.com/kpkMdqEPuk
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 19, 2024