Cavs are reluctant to trade Jarrett Allen due to Donovan Mitchell
It seems the Cavs would need a significant offer to part with Allen.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ number one goal this offseason is to convince Donovan Mitchell to sign an extension with the team. Anything that Cleveland can do to make that more likely is something they will consider. According to Mark Stein, that includes holding on to former All-Star Jarrett Allen.
One reason I’ve heard for the Cavaliers’ reported reluctance to trade Jarrett Allen despite ongoing questions about Allen’s fit in the same frontcourt alongside the emerging Evan Mobley: Donovan Mitchell is often described as an Allen fan who doesn’t want to lose him as a teammate.
The Cavaliers, of course, will soon have the ability to formally open negotiations on a contract extension with Mitchell on the day after the NBA Finals. Mitchell is eligible for a four-year extension worth nearly $210 million and securing his signature on a long-term deal is Cleveland’s No. 1 off-season priority.
It isn’t too surprising that Mitchell would feel this way. Mitchell’s best basketball this past season came when he and Allen were the main focal points of the offense. Mitchell showed a chemistry with Allen that he hadn’t displayed with a center at any other point in his career.
From mid-December through the All-Star break, Mitchell was dishing out 2.1 assists per game to Allen which was his most to any Cavalier teammate. This was one of the reasons the Cavs posted an absurd 16.4 net rating when both were on the floor in that span. The Cavs, and that duo, weren’t able to replicate that same success when Darius Garland and Evan Mobley were fully available and not on a minutes restriction.
There are numerous teams around the league that could use Allen’s services. Stein reported in May that several front offices are monitoring Allen’s situation. On Sunday, Christian Clark of nola.com reported that the New Orleans Pelicans have “significant interest” in Allen.
Trade rumors will persist around Allen due to how easily he fits into most lineups, his fair contract, and the perceived fit issues in Cleveland. That said, it appears that any move that would send Allen away would need to be one that Mitchell would be okay with. President of basketball operations, Koby Altman, stated last month that Mitchell has “a lot of influence” on the team’s roster construction. If Mitchell wants Allen in Cleveland, it would stand to reason the Cavs would need an offer that blows them away to do so.
“[Mitchell is] a highly intellectual basketball junkie,” Altman said in May. “And so I would love to have some of his input in terms of what we want to do in the future. And yeah, I absolutely would love his feedback in how we continue to build this thing.”