Cleveland Cavaliers: Evaluating the state of the C position

Evaluating the state of the C position: Needs

The answer to the question of what the Cavaliers need hinges on whether the team can re-sign Jarrett Allen, and at a reasonable price. Without Allen they have a gaping hole at the position; Isaiah Hartenstein, if he stays around, has upside but is not a reliable option to play heavy minutes at this point in his career.

If Allen signs an offer sheet with another team and the Cavaliers decline to match, and Hartenstein exercises his player option to sign elsewhere, this team would in essence be without a single full-time center on the roster. The position is still incredibly uncertain and likely will be until a couple of weeks into free agency.

Assuming for the moment that Allen is the team’s starting center next year, he does bring some limitations to the table. While he is a strong finisher he isn’t going to create shots for himself; while he doesn’t have to play that role on this team, it does give defenses an advantage when designing coverage schemes. If and when the Cavaliers return to the postseason teams wouldn’t worry about Allen backing down a smaller player in the post.

Allen also doesn’t space the floor, as so many centers now do. That doesn’t have to be a major negative; two of this year’s Conference Finalists featured high-minute starting centers who never shoot 3-pointers (DeAndre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns and Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks). What it does mean is the Cavaliers have to be careful in crafting the rest of the roster, as Allen’s presence in a lineup means at least one position is without a floor-spacer.

Weaknesses: Uncertainty, shooting, offensive creation