Cavs: Jarrett Allen will put opposing 5’s in bind in PnR

Jarrett Allen’s role will be a clear one for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When we see him in there with the Cleveland Cavaliers, recent trade acquisition Jarrett Allen should fit in seamlessly.

Allen, who has had 11.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game thus far this season for his previous club, the Brooklyn Nets, looks to be a long-term defensive anchor/rim protector for Cleveland. Although I’m not at all discounting what Andre Drummond has done this season for the Cavs on the interior on both ends, to put that out there.

Albeit factoring in recent rumors/reports, Drummond could seemingly be traded by the March 25 deadline by Cleveland. In that sense, I’d imagine that Cleveland would look to bring back a backup 5 as part of a potential package, anyhow.

That’s when you consider that JaVale McGee, who is only set to be on the books for $4.2 million this season, and is on an expiring deal, could feasibly be dealt, too. Perhaps he could stick around through the deadline, but per a report from Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, the Cavs have already received calls about both Drummond and McGee, for what it’s worth.

So one of those two 5’s is likely on the move by the deadline, one would assume. Now, in Drummond’s case, he is set to be on the books for $28.8 million this season, though.

So finding deals for him won’t be the simplest task, but Fedor suggested seemingly the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets and/or Dallas Mavericks as potential suitors for Drummond, and the Nets, actually, for McGee.

Perhaps the Cavs eventually instead end up keeping Drummond through the trade deadline, though, and have his deal expire for cap savings/him sign elsewhere after the season, as another potential outcome, however. We’ll see; regardless, Drummond doesn’t appear at all likely to be a long-term piece for Cleveland.

That’s factoring in Allen, who is set to be a restricted free agent, looking to be a piece Cleveland will almost certainly lock up long-term/match a possible offer sheet after extending him a qualifying offer.

They wouldn’t have dealt away their 2022 first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks to not do so, as an Eastern Conference executive emphasized to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto in a recent report. And that East exec believes Drummond is “definitely” out of Cleveland, for further context.

In relation to a potential long-term deal for Allen, a “top agent,” not Allen’s, though, reportedly told the Plain Dealer‘s Terry Pluto to “look at Clint Capela’s contract for a guide to what Allen can receive.” That was for five years and $90 million back from the Houston Rockets, who traded Capela after a year to the Atlanta Hawks.

So again, Drummond won’t be on the Cavs long-term, one wouldn’t think; Allen is an ascending player at 22, and should be a truly seamless fit alongside other Cavs players, such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Kevin Porter Jr. (when he’s back in the fold) and others. And no, I wouldn’t expect Allen to be traded by the Cavaliers in the foreseeable future.

Anyway, when examining a key part of what Allen should provide for the Cavs, his rolling/screening presence will make those around him better, I firmly believe. He’s one of the league’s best lob threats over-the-top/rolling finishers and won’t need the ball a bunch for post-ups, such as is the case with Drummond, albeit Allen again has impressive touch inside.

And regarding that roller/dunker role, we’ll highlight here.

The dunker/lob threat of Allen will put opposing 5’s in a bind in the pick-and-roll.

Allen, to drive it home, is one of the NBA’s best and most efficient rollers. The 6-foot-11 Texas product has placed in the 86th percentile in rolling scoring so far in 2020-21, per Synergy Sports, and he placed in the 89th percentile in that metric last season.

With his over-the-top threat as a roller/dunker in the pick-and-roll, he should consistently be a player the likes of Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Isaac Okoro, Kevin Porter Jr. and I’d imagine Damyean Dotson will be looking for in that realm.

If opposing 5’s do look to switch/look to smother driving lanes/pull-ups for those players, if they look for it, Allen should be able to throw it down if they throw it in those situations.

Conversely, if opposing 5’s in primary defense of Allen realistically drop to take away the lob/dump off passes to Allen, than Sexton, Garland and/or those others should take advantage via floaters/push shots and/or pull-ups. And Sexton and Garland, in particular, have proven to eat up those types of looks when they’re there, for instance, and this is projecting when those two are back in the fold.

For reference, Garland (right shoulder sprain) has missed the past seven games for the Cavs, and Sexton (left ankle sprain) has missed Cleveland’s past five.

Albeit this is when they’re back ready to roll/all set again, which would appear to be soon enough, and it’s projecting onward, really, and similarly with Porter, who hasn’t appeared yet this season (personal).

Moreover, lastly, if opposing 5’s in PnR coverage essentially end up in “No Man’s Land” to try to play basically halfway to split the difference between showing hard to ball-handlers and/or try to take away Allen lobs, those ball-handlers can take advantage there, too.

The likes of Garland or Sexton/others can use hesitation/hang dribbles/in-n-outs to either get more space for pull-ups, create more room to get to the basket with the threat of Allen over-the-top, or indeed, end up dumping/lobbing it to Allen. That’s if those opposing 5’s eventually show harder.

Also in those sort of “No Man’s Land” situations involving opposing 5’s, if perimeter defenders look to cheat a bit to Allen inside from the corners, those ball-handlers in the PnR can actually look to hit shooters in the corners with quick spray-outs as an added wrinkle.

That sort of thing will aid Osman, Kevin Love, feasibly, Dylan Windler (when he’s back/more comforable from a fractured left hand) and recent trade acquisition Taurean Prince. That would demonstrate the full effect of Allen’s rolling/dunker spot-gravity in PnR situations, too.

Needless to say, with how athletic/quick Allen is over-the-top and with his touch as a roller as well, opposing 5’s, in particular, will be put in a bind constantly in PnR scenarios looking onward. And that will help Cavs players around Allen be better/more efficient in the process, I believe.