Season review: Jarrett Allen

Jarrett Allen had a nice bounce-back season, but his future on the roster is in question.

After being a meme all summer with his “lights were too bright” comment, Jarrett Allen redeemed himself last season. The 26-year-old center put together a solid campaign, upping his per-game averages of points, rebounds, and assists while finishing tenth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Allen also had his healthiest season in a while, appearing in 77 games, his most since 2018-2019. It was a solid season for Allen, and his value is perhaps at its highest as the Cleveland Cavaliers assess their roster heading into a pivotal offseason.

The Cavs were better with Allen on the court than off, as expected. His stout rim protection, efficient offense around the rim, and flexibility to defend on the wing if necessary were all essential for Cleveland. But it was a complicated finish to the season for Allen, who missed the team’s final eight playoff games due to a rib injury that reportedly rubbed his teammates the wrong way. It was complicated for another reason as well: Allen played better without Evan Mobley next to him in the frontcourt.

Mobley suffered a knee injury, which forced him to miss a significant part of the regular season. That gave the Cavs a golden opportunity to evaluate what one big would look like in the starting lineup as opposed to two. The results were fascinating.

The Cavs’ most-used lineup of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Mobley, and Allen (765 possessions) finished with a +/- differential of +2.3. The second-most used lineup (484 possessions) of Mitchell, Strus, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, and Allen had a +/- differential of +20.7, the 89th percentile per Cleaning the Glass. Overall, the Cavs were +5.6 points per 100 possessions better with Allen on the floor without Mobley, the 80th percentile again per Cleaning the Glass. That is quite the difference, considering Garland was also out alongside Mobley.

Now does this mean that Mobley is bad? No, of course not. It means that the double-big setup may have run its course. Mobley looked more than capable as the starting center in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics, another indication that the double-big lineup is not as effective as one with a shooter at the power forward spot. Even adding Wade next to Allen or Mobley provided the requisite spacing to make the offense flow a little easier.

That brings up the same uncomfortable situation that Garland is in. The Cavs will have to consider moving on from Allen, especially in his case given his value has never been higher. He had a stretch of games where he averaged 16 double-doubles in a row without Mobley next to him. The efficiency, defense, and manageable contract situation make a trade a lot more feasible than a Garland one. Previously, the New Orleans Pelicans showed interest in Allen and are in a precarious position themselves with Brandon Ingram.

But most importantly, the evidence is even more apparent that the dual-big lineup is not the pathway to success anymore. At least, not when neither big can be a capable three-point shooter. Mobley showed some ability to step up and take a three, but it is still fleeting and not nearly at the volume the Cavs need. Allen will never be a shooter. If the double-big strategy is going to work, there needs to be a capable shooter in the frontcourt.

Overall, it was a good season for Allen. He was a dominant defender, a smart offensive threat near the rim, and maintained good health in the regular season. When they needed him to step up with Mobley and Garland out at the same time, Allen came through. But, much like the backcourt, it may be a tough decision with the future of the frontcourt pairing as well.