Jarrett Allen has committed his future to the Cleveland Cavaliers, agreeing to a three-year, $91 million contract extension, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Before this extension, Allen had two years and $40 million remaining on his contract, bringing the total value of his deal to $131 million over the next five years.
The terms of Allen’s new deal appear to be quite favorable for the Cavaliers. By comparison, his teammate Evan Mobley recently signed a rookie extension that could be worth up to $269 million over five years, depending on his eligibility for the Rose Rule, which hinges on accolades like All-NBA, MVP, or Defensive Player of the Year selections. Allen, who is still only 26 and a former All-Star, has secured a deal that, while increasing in value, remains manageable relative to the NBA salary cap. For the 2024-25 season, Allen’s salary will account for just under 13% of the cap, with his earnings in the final year of the extension projected to take up around 15.83% of it.
However, Allen’s long-term role in Cleveland remains a topic of discussion. While he and Mobley form a formidable defensive frontcourt, the pairing of two non-shooting big men has led to offensive challenges. These issues were exposed during the 2023 postseason when the Cavaliers were eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks. Additionally, Allen’s injury against the Orlando Magic in the first round caused him to miss the latter part of that series and the entire second-round matchup against the Boston Celtics.
Despite trade rumors earlier in the offseason, the Cavaliers opted to retain Jarrett Allen, a decision reinforced by their hiring of Kenny Atkinson, Allen’s former head coach with the Brooklyn Nets, to lead the team this season. This move suggests that the Cavaliers view Allen as a key piece of their future, at least for the near term.
While the Cavaliers didn’t overhaul their roster this summer, they have focused on securing their core players. Donovan Mitchell agreed to a three-year extension earlier this offseason, and Mobley followed suit with his own extension. With Allen now locked in, the Cavaliers are building a foundation they hope will lead to sustained success in Cleveland.
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