Cleveland Cavaliers: Complete 2021 NBA Free Agency preview

4 of 7

Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images /

Complete 2021 NBA Free Agency preview: Jarrett Allen

The Cavs’ most consequential free agent this offseason is center Jarrett Allen. The team took on the contract of Taurean Prince and send out a first round pick to bring in the 6’11” center in January. From then on he averaged 13.2 points 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, numbers that improved once Andre Drummond was pulled from the starting lineup.

It’s expected that the team will want to bring Allen back, for a number of reasons. First is that this team doesn’t have an optimal way to replace him; they don’t have any other centers under contract, and first round pick Evan Mobley likely needs time in the league to build a center’s body. Kevin Love used to play center full-time, but he shouldn’t be counted on for anything at this point.

Secondly, the Cavaliers invested a lot of assets in Allen, from the pick to their salary cap space. They wouldn’t have done that if they didn’t value him highly, and will likely be open to paying Allen up to a certain amount. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports ($$) that there is “mutual interest” between the team and Allen to bring him back.

He is a restricted free agent, and therefore the Cavs have the ability to match any contract that another team signs him to. The Toronto Raptors are a team that has cap space and needs a center, and their slightly younger timeline would fit Allen perfectly. The Charlotte Hornets drafted a big and traded for Mason Plumlee, so while they still need another center they likely won’t be in Allen’s price range. Other teams that have cap space either don’t need a center or likely have other priorities, which means it may come down to Cleveland or Toronto.

Allen is a very solid center, but he is not a game-changer on either end and he plays the league’s most replaceable center. Add on top of that the fact that Mobley’s long-term position is likely center to unlock positional versatility up the lineup. If Allen wants something in the range of five years, $100 million, should the Cavs really pay that?

Another center in a similar position, Clint Capela, signed a five-year, $80 million contract in 2018. Myles Turner is playing on a four-year, $80 million deal. Allen doesn’t space the floor like Turner, nor is he quite the rim protector that he is.

The Cavs could let the market try to squeeze Allen, but that could alienate their hopeful starting center. Even so, trying up $20 million a season for a center who will never make an All-Star team or an All-Defense team is a tough pill to swallow. Even so, the Cavs need to be clear in negotiations that they aren’t going to pay through the nose. A four year contract starting around $15-17 million is still likely high for a center like Allen, but it’s high enough to mollify Allen’s pride. Anything more gets really painful, really fast.