According to Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid, Cleveland Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen may be on the move this summer. Per Dammarell, the Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, and New Orleans Pelicans are all expected to pursue Allen should he become available in the offseason.
“The general vibe across the league according to sources is that Allen and Garland are the two who could become available for the right price if Mitchell re-signs with the Cavaliers. While Allen has been linked to the New Orleans Pelicans for quite a while now, sources tell Right Down Euclid that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings could be interested in the former All-Star.”
This report comes less than 24 hours after the Cavaliers’ season was ended by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Allen missed the entire series due to a rib injury.
Despite the tough end to the season, Allen enjoyed a solid campaign with the Cavaliers. The 26-year-old averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Furthermore, he finished No. 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Jarrett Allen’s future with the Cavaliers is very much up in the air, per @ShamsCharania on @RunItBackFDTV.
Evan Mobley averaged 16.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks in Allen’s absence during the playoffs.
If Allen becomes available, expect plenty of interest. pic.twitter.com/yH8lgOsZZp
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 16, 2024
Three NBA Teams May Pursue Cleveland Cavaliers Big Man
How Jarrett Allen Would Fit With the Sacramento Kings
Although the Kings technically play Domantas Sabonis at center, he is naturally a power forward. By acquiring Allen, it would allow Sabonis to move back to his natural position. Furthermore, Allen would complement Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox very well. Allen is an excellent rebounder and typically stays down low. After missing the playoffs, it is likely the Kings are willing to do whatever it takes to make it back. Adding Allen would help them move an inch closer to their goal.
Jarrett Allen Would Provide the Oklahoma City Thunder With Extra Rebounding
Allen’s potential fit with Oklahoma City is similar. He can complement Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander well. If the Thunder trade for Allen, they would likely move Holmgren to the power forward position full-time. Additionally, the Thunder finished the regular season averaging 42 rebounds per game, the fourth-worst in the NBA. Despite ending the regular season with the second-best record in the league, the Thunder have flaws they must fix. Allen is a top-tier rebounder and would help Oklahoma City drastically on the boards.
The New Orleans Pelicans May Need a New Center
Earlier this week, reports indicated the Pelicans will likely move on from starting center Jonas Valanciunas this offseason. This is due to him not being a great fit in the Zion Williamson-led offense.
There’s a sense Jonas Valanciunas won’t return as a Pelican this offseason in free agency, I’m told. Valanciunas essentially split center minutes with Larry Nance Jr. this season and was benched often to close games. When Zion is healthy and playing, Valanciunas occupies the paint and clogs driving lanes for Zion. While he’s still a double-double threat, he’s not an ideal fit for this roster, and his near double-double production will likely be more valued by other teams on the unrestricted free-agent market.
Assuming the Pelicans move on from Valanciunas, Allen could be a reasonable replacement.
The Last Word on Jarrett Allen
It remains unclear if the Cavaliers are seriously considering moving on from Allen. Regardless, he is still a valuable big man and could net a solid return for the team.
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