For teams looking for an established center who can contribute on both ends of the court, Jarrett Allen is a no-brainer. The 27-year-old is coming off another efficient season where he nearly averaged a double-double and led the entire NBA in field goal percentage. He appeared in all 82 games and was instrumental in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 64-18 record, the best record in the Eastern Conference.
It is not that the Cavaliers wouldn’t like to hold on to a player of Allen’s caliber, but their hefty salary bill puts them in a precarious situation. Rumors have started to circulate that Allen could be part of a trade to clear up some cap space. If the Texas native were to become available, there would be no shortage of suitors for the former All-Star.
New Orleans Pelicans Named As ‘Ideal Landing Spot’ for Jarrett Allen
Allen has spent the last five seasons with the Cavaliers, racking up 334 games with the organization. After a crushing end to Cleveland’s season, where they were upset by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cavs could look to shake up their lineup this offseason.
Allen remains one of the league’s most consistent centers, but he is set to earn $90,720,000 between 2026 and 2029. With Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland all on huge contracts, Allen is a luxury asset that the Cavs may not be able to commit to going forward.
In a recent piece, PFSN’s Brandon Austin argues that the New Orleans Pelicans could be the perfect landing spot for the big man. The Pelicans have been one of the most active teams during the offseason as they look to rebuild after a disappointing 21-win season. However, Austin believes Allen could be the solution to the remaining “glaring hole” on their roster.
“The New Orleans Pelicans would be an ideal landing spot for Allen as they look to establish long-term stability and size in the frontcourt,” says Austin. “The Pelicans might not want to part ways with Herbert Jones because they’ve invested so much in his development, but given the current state of the roster, center is the most glaring hole.
“A nucleus of Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears is enticing, but the Pelicans still lack a legitimate post presence at the center spot. Allen is a proven rim protector, an elite rebounder, and, perhaps most importantly for New Orleans, incredibly durable, something the injury-plagued roster needs.
“Pairing Allen with Williamson would create one of the NBA’s most athletic and physically imposing frontcourts. Allen’s low-usage, high-efficiency style (13.9% usage rate, per Cleaning the Glass) means he won’t take touches away from Williamson or Murphy, but he’ll still be effective.”
Allen could be the difference maker in a Pelicans lineup that already features a talented group of guards (Murray, Fears, and Jordan Poole) and some notable frontcourt players (Williamson, Murphy, and Queen).
Jarrett Allen has agreed on a three-year, $91M maximum extension with the Cavs that’ll now guarantee him $131M over the next five years, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/q36lfVjJx4
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 31, 2024
Partnering Allen with former No. 1 overall pick and two-time All-Star Williamson could also be a mouthwatering prospect for a Pelicans fanbase that hasn’t had much to cheer about over the last few years.
Allen’s consistency and efficiency make him an attractive prospect for any NBA team, but his defensive numbers and presence in the post could turn out to be vital for a Pelicans team that struggled to slow down opponents last season, finishing with the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA (119.1).
Allen has averaged over 9.7 rebounds over six consecutive seasons, topping out at 10.8 during the 2021-22 campaign. Over 568 career games, he has also averaged 1.2 blocks per game.
Jarrett Allen, will he resign with Cleveland or go elsewhere. Cleveland’s Management has the final say. The Pelicans have started to do their rebuild with Kevin Looney. The Pelicans have a foundation; do this combination of players work together Derik Queen, Kevin Looney and Zion Williamson. A good defender at small forward would be need. Zion Williamson’s ability to work with other talented offensive players is a factor.