The Cleveland Cavaliers are approaching a pivotal decision concerning the future of center Jarrett Allen as the NBA nears its February trade deadline. With the team’s overall expenses escalating, the Cavaliers may be compelled to consider trades to maintain a healthy salary cap.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report has suggested that Allen could be a trade candidate. Hughes pointed out that Evan Mobley has been playing around two-thirds of his minutes at center, thus limiting Allen’s playing time to an average of 26.1 minutes per game, his lowest since his rookie season. This trend indicates that any significant moves the Cavaliers make may involve trading Allen.
Hughes elaborated that the ideal vision for the Cavaliers revolves around Mobley emerging as their leading player, a shift that could be amplified by utilizing him at center, where he can benefit from better spacing on the court. Although Allen is still a capable starting center, the Cavaliers are now categorized as a second-apron team, and maintaining Allen at a first-unit salary contradicts their long-term vision.
This season has already presented challenges for the Cavaliers, with Allen participating in only 15 of the first 25 games due to health issues. Consequently, the team has had an opportunity to evaluate its performance without him and has struggled, securing just 14 wins so far. This is a stark contrast to last year’s performance, where they lost only 18 games across the full 82-game schedule.
If the Cavaliers decide to trade Allen, they will need to focus on finding a suitable replacement that enhances their team balance, potentially acquiring a wing or guard. The aim would be to ensure that any trade for Allen is strategic rather than merely a means to recoup some value.
As discussions around Allen’s future continue, the Cavaliers will face the Washington Wizards in their next game, scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena. Fans can catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network or stream it via NBA Week Pass. The coming days may prove crucial, not just for Allen but for the direction in which the Cavaliers wish to steer their season.