When it comes to surprising their own fans, the Cleveland Cavaliers might be the best in the league!
Everyone thought Donovan Mitchell was leaving, but the Cavs offered him a contract extension. People doubted Evan Mobley's potential as a cornerstone, so the Cavs handed him a max contract. Fans speculated that Mobley's extension meant Jarrett Allen was on the trade block, but the Cavs quietly negotiated an extension with Allen.
It's a series of unexpected moves, leaving fans baffled and their heads spinning.
Jarrett Allen's Extension: A Strategic Move?
According to Woj, via Allen's agent Derrick Powell, the Cavaliers have agreed to a 3-year extension worth up to $91 million with Jarrett Allen. Allen's current contract, signed in 2021 for 5 years and $100 million, still has two years remaining. Extending it now might seem premature, but the Cavaliers appear satisfied with Allen's performance over the past three years, where he has averaged 15.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Despite never having played a full season, Allen's steadily increasing games played each year (56, 68, and 77 games) suggest he isn't overly injury-prone, providing the Cavaliers with confidence in a long-term commitment.
Allen, a 2017 draft pick, leads his draft class in rebounds and blocks per game, and ranks third in total games played, trailing only Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo.
Financial Breakdown and Future Implications
Allen's new contract is structured to increase annually from $28 million in the first year to $32.48 million in the third year. Including the remaining two years on his current contract, Allen stands to earn $131 million over the next five years. Despite concerns about whether Allen's skill set justifies such a high salary, his excellent rim protection and defensive rotations place him among the top-tier players in his role, though not at the max-contract level.
When comparing similar players:
- Nic Claxton recently signed a 4-year, $100 million extension, with $96 million guaranteed.
- Mitchell Robinson's salary next season is $14.3 million.
- Daniel Gafford will earn about $13.4 million.
- Dereck Lively is on a rookie contract worth $5 million.
- Rudy Gobert, the ceiling for this player archetype, will earn $43.8 million next season.
Given this context, Allen's salary positions him well among his peers.
The Cavaliers' Future: Championship Window
The Cavaliers' core four players—Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen—are all locked into contracts until at least the 2027-28 season. This grants the team a solid four-year window to compete for a championship.
Additionally, the reappointment of coach Kenny Atkinson, who previously coached Allen at the Brooklyn Nets, might rejuvenate Allen's defensive prowess. Under Atkinson, Allen demonstrated remarkable defensive abilities, consistently appearing in DPOY conversations.
Although the Cavaliers exited in the second round of the playoffs last season, they only lost to the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics, highlighting their competitiveness.
Stability in the Offseason
To date, the Cavaliers have not made any trades or brought in new additions, focusing solely on retaining their key players. Only three teams have taken this approach, with the Celtics being one of them. The Celtics extended key players like Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet, Sam Hauser, and Derrick White, ensuring their championship roster remains intact. Following a similar path, the Cavaliers' strategy suggests a championship-level operation.
In contrast, the Lakers have also refrained from signing new players, retaining only LeBron James and Max Christie while losing key players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince. This raises questions about their offseason strategy.
Since Allen's extension will not take effect until two seasons later, it won't impact the Cavaliers' salary cap next season, keeping them below the luxury tax threshold and allowing room for potential roster improvements.
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