Cavs: Lauri Markkanen, Jarrett Allen likely to return Monday vs. BKN

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been very shorthanded in recent games, and they’ve been without Lauri Markkanen since Nov. 1.

Markkanen has been out because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols, but has been working his way back, which would be a lift for Cleveland. Kevin Love recently made his return for the Cavs this week from COVID-19, to that point, and has helped out on the glass and as a stabilizing presence in his bench minutes.

It has been tough for Cleveland in this three-game losing streak to have been without the services of Jarrett Allen, who has been out due to illness, non-COVID-19-related, fortunately.

On the plus side though, the Cavaliers are reportedly likely to have both Markkanen and Allen back in the lineup on Monday against the Brooklyn Nets, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

That could be a noticeable lift for the Wine and Gold, and should help the frontcourt and the team overall, and from a rebounding perspective, particularly with Evan Mobley (right elbow sprain) still out.

This is a bit of positive news for the Cavs, who have been so thin on bodies of late.

The Cavs obviously won’t have Collin Sexton from here this season, given the news from Friday involving him having underwent season-ending surgery, but Cleveland at least having a good possibility of getting Markkanen and Allen back can aid the group.

Early on, the three-big lineup with Markkanen, Mobley and Allen was starting to show improved chemistry, prior to Markkanen heading into protocols.

Now, Markkanen, who had started off playing as a de facto 3 offensively, which was an adjustment, still had started off with career-low splits across the board, and hasn’t been able to consistently knock down three-point looks yet when he’s been in.

He’s hit 28.0 percent from three early on here, but the spacing element he provides would be meaningful still. And Markkanen was beginning to contribute from heady off-ball movement via cuts, early seal offense and him starting to utilize drives to counter hard closeouts.

Granted, it’ll take him some time to get his wind, one would assume, and Markkanen missed time previously with the Chicago Bulls due to COVID-19 protocols. However, with the off-ball and offensive feel from Markkanen, to go with ability to draw fouls, he can give Cleveland a lift still, albeit I’d imagine on a minutes pitch count.

In relation to Allen, coming off illness, we’ll have to see how much he can play, if he is set to be back on Monday versus Brooklyn, sure.

If that’s what transpires, though, we know that Allen’s presence on the interior will affect opponent shots near the basket, he’ll rebound on both ends notably, and he should be a crucial lob pass and paint target for Darius Garland, Ricky Rubio and others.

Allen’s absence, in particular against the Nets the first go-round and versus the Boston Celtics in a loss, was clearly missed. I’m not suggesting Cleveland couldn’t have used him in the second half in a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, in fairness.

The Fro has been a regular in the double-double category for the Cavaliers this season with 14.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per contest, and he’s taken a step forward with his play finishing/off-ball IQ this season. And after his lucrative new deal this offseason, him showing some on-ball growth inside has been encouraging.

Moreover, while it’s not a guarantee for both to be back on Monday, in what will likely be a tough one either way, having Markkanen and Allen back for stretches would make a difference for a Cavaliers club that could really use some of its regular guys back.