CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers have always wanted a player like Jarrett Allen – a reflective defensive anchor who can grow with, and protect, their young underdogs.
That’s why they tried to trade on the deadline for Indiana Pacers’ defensive linpin in February before being repulsed. Therefore, they finally entered into the agreement for Andre Drummond and spent their salary period in advance to take the two-time All-Star on board, always expecting him to accept his contract, which he did.
The Cavs saw the impact of Drummond. They passed 4-4 with him in the series during 2019-20. They are 5-6 in games he has played this season.
Tuesday night was Drummond’s first absence of the season due to an Achilles contusion, and the Cavs struck with 30 points. It also happened to be their worst defensive performance, enabling the Jazz to score 117 points on 50% from the field and 53.3% from the three-point range.
Drummond’s arrival almost a year ago was the first step that showed the improvement of the defense – the core of coach JB Bickerstaff’s desired identity.
But Drummond is an unlimited free agent in the off-season, and the initial talks with him did not go well. An exit from the summer seems more likely, if it is not affected earlier than a trade. The Cavs knew they did not have much control over the outcome. JaVale McGee, who started in Drummond’s place on Tuesday night, is also in the final year of his contract. Ahead of Wednesday’s astute move, the Cavs are staring at a thin depth-of-depth map beyond this season – and a limited path to change that.
Not anymore.
When Brooklyn called Wednesday afternoon, the Cavs willingly jumped into the four-team agreed-upon James Harden trailer that sent shockwaves through the NBA – and stole one of the league’s top emerging sizes.
Brooklyn got what he wanted, by capturing Harden – the deadly goal scorer and crown jewel of the exchange – and teaming him up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (if he ever returned from personal leave) to form a terrifying trio. They gave up on Allen and admitted that they could not afford to keep him beyond this year. The Houston Rockets are probably feeling better about their future with a slew of concepts to ignite a rebuild. Indiana traded Victor Oladipo for Caris LeVert, saving money in the process.
The Cavs also benefited by adding Allen and swingman Taurean Prince in exchange for Dante Exum, the unprotected Milwaukee Bucks’ first round in 2022, who lost some value with Giannis Antetokounmpo signing a maximum extension, and a second round in the second round in 2024 called the one source the worst asset in Cleveland’s pile.
Prince, an essential throw to help Brooklyn move money, did not have a great year. But a change of scenery – and perhaps greater opportunity – can help revive its value. Prince will provide depth on the wing. A competitive and defensive forward with the versatility to play 3 or 4, and the 26-year-old former first player gives the Cavs another healthy lathe as they continue to fight the exhaustion.
But make no mistake: this move was about Allen – a man who had the Cavs near the top of their free agency board in 2021 and was willing to make a turnaround during this season.
“Rejoice,” a source said when asked to describe the feeling in the building. ‘You get a man who’s 22 years old and about to start his first career with our growing young core. To acquire a player of the range, of that age, we acquired the assets to get these opportunities. ”
The Cavs have been liking the 6-foot-11 Allen for years and are going back to the 2017 NBA draft. A few months ago in free agencies, sources say, members of Cleveland’s front office spoke to Brooklyn about Allen’s availability as a potential Tristan Thompson replacement. At the time, the fast Nets were not interested in going on, especially not his low salary number and the way he played in the Bubble.
Allen executed it this season, averaging 11.2 points on 67.7% shooting off the field, with 10.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks in 12 games. He ranks 10th in rebounds and ninth in blocks.
When offended, he is an effective pick-and-roll finisher and looming threat threat who does not eat possessions or play plays to make an impact – a key feature in a team with ball-dominant guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. As the numbers point to Allen as a deadly pick-and-roll partner with Irving, the Cavs have visions of a successful Garland-Allen combination, helping unlock another part of Garland’s budding game. Only Rudy Gobert has been used more than one screener in the specific series since 2018-19.
On the other hand, he is a turbulent backbone and elite rim protector, finishing fourth in the NBA in field percentage percentage versus players with at least 250 field goals defended over the past two seasons.
What is the best way to reduce the shortcomings of playing two small guards? Surround them with defensive pieces.
The Cavs have enough early data to highlight the impact on size and rim protection on this group. As Drummond and McGee move the paint around, Larry Nance Jr. disrupting the passing lanes and looting rookie Isaac Okoro’s opponents on the perimeter, the Cavs climbed to the top of the league in their defensive rankings – an extraordinary turnaround for a team that has selected the last two years in a row.
In the short term, Cleveland’s center is slightly confused. Thon Maker will be turned down and the Cavs have already received calls about McGee, sources say.
While it looks likely the veteran will push under the Allen addition, the outcome of injuries during the first few weeks makes an in-depth gain. It will be up to Bickerstaff to balance minutes and make the pieces fit. Drummond, who has been fully engaged since his arrival last year and has increased the franchise’s level of competitiveness, is reportedly on board with a center rotation like Brooklyn with DeAndre Jordan and Allen. According to sources, Drummond sent an SMS shortly after the announcement of the news manager, Koby Altman, calling it a ‘good deal’.
The Cavs have invested numerous resources to correct their defense. They did not want to lose the positive momentum. They could not afford to go backwards. With uncertainty surrounding Drummond’s future, they need some protection. Even if Drummond had stayed in Cleveland beyond this year, the Cavs were planning to look for another front piece.
The potential target for free agencies, Bam Adebayo, was not in the market and signed a major expansion in Miami. Rudy Gobert has colored a new deal in Utah to remove him from the potential plans. Anthony Davis, who has always been a pipe dream anyway, unexpectedly chose to stay in Los Angeles.
What’s the point of having hood space when there is no one to spend it on?
In many ways, the money is destined for Allen, who is a limited free agent. Only in this way did the Cavs have more control. They have inherited his Bird rights, can match any listing page and are optimistic about their chances of signing him on a lucrative long-term contract. They did not pick the first round to have him bolted.
Now the Cavs have more than 50 games to show Allen that this is where he belongs – in the midst of a promising young core that includes Garland, Sexton, Okoro, Nance, Dylan Windler and Kevin Porter Jr.
Consider it their free agency – about six months earlier than expected.
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