The 2021 NBA Draft Lottery has played out and while the Cleveland Cavaliers did not end up landing the top overall pick, they did finish No. 3 in the order. This could add some complexity to their offseason plans in one of those ‘good problems to have’ sort of ways.
When making one of the top selections in any given draft, that player almost always becomes an immediate foundational element to what a team is trying to do. That’s why the possibility of landing USC big man Evan Mobley, the top big man in the class, with the No. 3 pick could complicate giving a massive extension to Jarrett Allen.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: Hornets, Mavericks could be teams to watch for Jarrett Allen in NBA free agency
According to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers could look to engage in a sign-and-trade scenario if the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft lands them Evan Mobley.
“I had this discussion with Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com’s superb basketball writer,” in regards to Allen’s future if the team drafts Mobley. “He quickly said, ‘Sign-and-trade.’”
“Sign-and-trade? Sure,” Pluto continued when asked for his personal opinion on the Allen situation. “Makes sense.”
It certainly does not make sense to bring back Jarrett Allen in the event that Evan Mobley were to be the Cavaliers’ pick with the No. 3 selection. It would be for the same reasons holding onto Andre Drummond after the opportunity opened up to land Allen in the four-team blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: Jarrett Allen expected to receive $100M contract from Cavaliers
Sometimes, an opportunity that is too good to pass up can change the intended course of a team’s direction. That absolutely could occur for the Cavaliers and would end up saving them substantial spending since Jarrett Allen is expected to receive over $100 million in his next contract.
Now, there are some additional layers to come to mind when evaluating the impact of the Cavaliers selecting Evan Mobley. Would the team be more willing to pay Collin Sexton on his next deal since the hesitation was in having to pay both he and Jarrett Allen? That’s certainly worth asking.
