Jarrett Allen’s Breakout Run Is Forcing the Cavs to Rethink Their Frontcourt Future
Right now, Jarrett Allen is playing the best basketball of his career - and the Cleveland Cavaliers are feeling the ripple effects in a big way.
Since Evan Mobley went down with an ankle injury, Allen has stepped into a larger role and delivered in a major way. He’s not just protecting the rim or cleaning up on the glass - he’s become an offensive centerpiece. And that shift is raising some big-picture questions for the Cavs about how to balance their frontcourt moving forward.
Let’s start with the numbers. Since Mobley hit the sidelines, Allen has been averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds per game, shooting a scorching 70.9% effective field goal percentage on 13.2 shot attempts per night.
That’s not just efficient - that’s elite. And it’s not a coincidence that this surge began right when Mobley exited the lineup.
Allen is thriving in a more open floor. With Mobley out, there’s more space in the paint, more touches to go around, and more opportunities for Allen to roll hard to the rim or find soft spots in the defense. And it’s not just raw numbers - it’s the way he’s getting them.
Enter James Harden.
Harden’s influence on Allen can’t be overstated. The veteran guard has long been one of the NBA’s premier pick-and-roll playmakers, elevating big men everywhere he’s gone - from Clint Capela in Houston to Joel Embiid in Philly to Ivica Zubac in L.A.
Now, he’s doing it again in Cleveland. Allen is the latest big to benefit from Harden’s ability to manipulate defenses and deliver pinpoint lobs or pocket passes.
“He’s a pick-and-roll savant,” said one insider. And he’s not wrong. Harden’s presence is unlocking new dimensions in Allen’s game - ones we haven’t seen consistently in past seasons.
But what’s just as telling is how little the Cavs had been using Allen in key offensive moments before this recent stretch. Until just recently, Cleveland hadn’t run a single after-timeout (ATO) play for Allen all season. That’s a stunning stat for a player now proving he can be a legitimate offensive weapon.
It’s clear the coaching staff - led by Kenny Atkinson - is starting to take notice. And they’ll need to, because the next challenge is looming: reintegrating Evan Mobley.
Mobley is still one of the pillars of the Cavaliers’ long-term vision. His defensive versatility, shot-blocking, and budding offensive skill set make him a franchise cornerstone. But now that Allen has shown what he can do in a more featured role, the Cavs have to figure out how to make both players thrive - not just coexist.
That means tough decisions for Atkinson and his staff. Do you stagger Allen and Mobley’s minutes more aggressively to maintain spacing and offensive flow?
Do you tweak the offensive sets to give both players room to operate? And how do you ensure Mobley continues to develop while not stalling Allen’s momentum?
It’s a delicate balance. For years, the conversation around this frontcourt duo centered on whether Allen’s presence might be limiting Mobley’s offensive growth. Now, the script has flipped - with Mobley’s return potentially capping Allen’s ceiling.
That’s the kind of “good problem” teams dream of - two talented bigs, both capable of impacting games in different ways. But it’s also a puzzle that needs solving if the Cavs want to make real noise in the postseason.
Allen and Harden have already built strong chemistry in the pick-and-roll. That connection could be a real weapon come playoff time. But to maximize their roster, Cleveland will need to find a system that keeps Allen engaged offensively while giving Mobley the freedom to grow.
With the All-Star break approaching, the Cavs have some time to tinker. Whether it’s through creative rotations, more staggered minutes, or a revamped offensive playbook, the coaching staff’s next moves will go a long way in determining just how high this team’s ceiling really is.
One thing’s for sure: Jarrett Allen isn’t just holding down the fort while Mobley heals - he’s raising the bar.