Jarrett Allen potential sign-and-trade post-draft?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are kind of stuck in quicksand right now as an organization because while they have some really talented young players, there are signs of doubt within this front-office not just about the future of their young players, but the contract situations that may arise over the next year or two. 

Right now, Cleveland is about $18M under the salary cap for the 2021-22 season, but Collin Sexton is up for a contract-extension, Darius Garland is up for one next year, and Jarrett Allen is a restricted free agent this offseason. Cavaliers’ GM Koby Altman has stated that he would like Allen to return on a new long-term deal to be their starting center moving forward, but this was before the Cavaliers ended up with the 3rd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. 

Now, things definitely have changed in terms of the future trajectory of this franchise because they may have an opportunity to draft their new franchise-center. Evan Mobley is arguably the best big man prospect since DeAndre Ayton went first overall in 2018 and there is a very strong chance that he could fall to the Cavs at 3rd overall. 

Cade Cunningham is going to be the first overall pick this year, but the Houston Rockets have a big decision to make second overall with Jalen Green and Evan Mobley on the board. Sources have told NBA Analysis Network that the Rockets may favor Jalen Green over Evan Mobley in this draft, meaning that the USC big man would be on the board for the Cavaliers with the 3rd pick. 

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If Evan Mobley falls to the Cavaliers, then they will absolutely be taking him, meaning that there could be some questions to answer in terms of Jarrett Allen. Hypothetically in a perfect world, both Allen and Mobley could play together on the court at the same time, but ultimately, I believe that the Cavaliers would be drafting Mobley with the intent to make him their starting center. 

Not only would this move save them money in the long-run, which they believe they need to do, but picking Evan Mobley over Jarrett Allen would give the Cavaliers enough cap space to give Collin Sexton a long-term deal and then keep Darius Garland next year as well. 

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Getting Evan Mobley could spell the end of Jarrett Allen’s time in Cleeland, which opens up the door for a potential sign-and-trade involving Allen this offseason. It is expected that Jarrett Allen, wherever he plays/signs, will get a deal worth $18M-$20M per year and one team to watch that could be highly interested in him via this sign-and-trade are the Dallas Mavericks. 

They have some problems to sort out at the center position and while it would cost them a lot, adding Jarrett Allen gives the Mavericks a really strong frontcourt duo with him and Kristaps Porzingis. Not to mention, Dallas would finally have the dual-threat interior presence they have been looking for over the years. 

A potential sign-and-trade involving Jarrett Allen post-draft is very feasible to imagine and if they draft Evan Mobley, this could signify that Allen will be on the move this offseason. The future of the Cleveland Cavaliers is very “up-in-the-air” right now and there is no stability within this organization in terms of a plan for the future at the moment. Check back in on the Cavaliers on July 29 to see what their plans are moving forward.