CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers have always coveted a player like Jarrett Allen – a defensive anchor who can grow with and protect his young, small guards.
That’s why they tried to negotiate for Indiana Pacers defense leader Myles Turner on deadline in February, before being rejected. That’s why they ended up closing the deal for Andre Drummond, spending upfront his salary limit to bring the two-star All-Star on board, always hoping he would opt for his contract, which he did.
The Cavs saw Drummond’s impact. They went 4-4 with him in the squad during 2019-20. It’s 5-6 in games he played this season.
Tuesday night was Drummond’s first absence of the season because of an Achilles injury, and the Cavs were reduced by 30 points. It was also, not by chance, his worst defensive display, allowing Jazz to score 117 points in 50% of the field and 53.3% of the 3-point range.
Drummond’s arrival, almost a year ago, was the first movement that showed a commitment to improving defense – the essence of the identity desired by coach JB Bickerstaff.
But Drummond is set to be an unrestricted free agent this off-season and the initial conversations with him did not go well. An exit this summer seemed more likely, had it not been shaken up in a negotiation before that. The Cavs knew that they did not have much control over this outcome. JaVale McGee, who debuted in Drummond’s place on Tuesday night, is also in the final year of the contract. Prior to Wednesday’s cunning move, Cavs was looking at a thin central depth chart beyond this season – and a limited way to change that.
No more.
When Brooklyn called on Wednesday afternoon, the Cavs gladly jumped into four-team James Harden’s blockbuster, which caused shock waves in the NBA – and stole one of the league’s biggest champions.
Brooklyn got what he wanted, grabbing Harden – the lethal gunner and crown jewel of the exchange – and joining him with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (if he ever returns from a personal leave) to form a scary trio. They gave up on Allen, recognizing that they couldn’t afford to keep him beyond this year. The Houston Rockets are likely to feel better about their future with a number of options for starting a rebuild. Indiana traded Victor Oladipo for Caris LeVert and saved money in the process.
The Cavs also benefited, adding Allen and swingman Taurean Prince in exchange for Dante Exum, the choice of the first 2022 round of unprotected Milwaukee Bucks that lost some value with Giannis Antetokounmpo signing a maximum extension and a second round choice of 2024 from that source called the worst asset in the Cleveland heap.
Prince, an essential launch to help Brooklyn move money, has not had a great year. But a change of scenery – and perhaps a greater opportunity – could help revive its value. Prince will provide depth in the wing. A competitive and defensive striker with the versatility to play 3 or 4, the 26-year-old former player gives Cavs another piece of healthy rotation as they continue to fight wear and tear.
But make no mistake: that move was about Allen – a guy that Cavs had near the top of his free agency board in 2021 and was prepared to race in this off season.
“Delighted,” said a source when asked to describe the sensation in the building. “You have a guy who is 22 years old and is about to enter the peak of his career with our growing youth group. To acquire a player of this magnitude, of that age, that is why we acquired these assets, to have these opportunities. “
The Cavs have liked the six-foot Allen for years, since the 2017 NBA Draft. A few months ago, at a free agency, sources say Cleveland board members talked to Brooklyn about Allen’s availability as a potential replacement for Tristan Thompson. At that time, Nets winner was not interested in moving forward, especially due to his low salary and the way he played inside the bubble.
Allen took it this season, averaging 11.2 points on 67.7% of field shots to go with 10.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks in 12 games. He is 10th in rebounds and ninth in blocks.
In attack, he is an efficient pick-and-roll finisher and a lob threat that does not consume goods or needs moves to make an impact – an important feature in a team with dominant guards on the ball Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. With numbers pointing to Allen as a lethal pick-and-roll partner alongside Irving, the Cavs have visions of a successful Garland-Allen combination, helping to unlock another area of Garland’s early game. Dated 2018-19, only Rudy Gobert was used as a more tracker in that specific set.
At the other end, he is an intoxicating backbone and elite rim protector, ranking fourth in the NBA in percentage of field goal against players with at least 250 defended field goals in the past two seasons.
What is the best way to minimize the shortcomings that arise when playing two little guards? Surround them with pieces of defensive mind.
Cavs have enough initial data to highlight the size and impact of rim protection in this group. With Drummond and McGee wandering around the painting, Larry Nance Jr. messing up the overtaking lanes and newcomer Isaac Okoro pestering opponents on the perimeter, Cavs rose to the top of the league in defensive classification – an extraordinary turnaround for a team in the bottom two positions consecutive years.
In the short term, Cleveland’s central hub is a little confusing. Thon Maker will be discharged and the Cavs have already received calls about McGee, the sources say.
Although the veteran seems more likely to be pressured by Allen’s addition, the wave of injuries during the first few weeks makes depth an asset. It will be up to Bickerstaff to balance the minutes and make the pieces fit together. Drummond, who is fully engaged and has increased the franchise’s level of competitiveness since his arrival last year, said he was on board with a central rotation similar to Brooklyn with DeAndre Jordan and Allen. Sources say Drummond texted General Manager Koby Altman shortly after the news, calling it a “big exchange”.
The Cavs invested several resources to repair their defense. They did not want to lose any positive momentum. They could not regress. With the uncertainty surrounding Drummond’s future, they need some protection. Even though Drummond stayed in Cleveland later this year, the Cavs were planning to look for another piece on the front line.
Bam Adebayo, a potential target for the free agency, was out of the market, signing a massive extension in Miami. Rudy Gobert signed a new contract in Utah, eliminating him from potential plans. Anthony Davis, always a dream anyway, unsurprisingly chose to stay in Los Angeles.
What good is having a cap space if there is no one to spend it on?
In many ways, that money was set aside for Allen, who is a restricted free agent. Only then will the Cavs have more control. They inherited their Bird rights, can potentially match any offer sheet, and are optimistic about the chances of signing it on a lucrative long-term contract. They didn’t give up on a first-round choice to let him get away.
Cavs now have more than 50 games to show Allen that this is his place – at the center of a young and promising core that features Garland, Sexton, Okoro, Nance, Dylan Windler and Kevin Porter Jr.
Consider this your free agency pitch – about six months ahead of schedule.
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