As the Cavaliers get set for a new season, the spotlight is falling on the usual headliners like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. But Jarrett Allen may be the name worth watching most closely.
Allen has been in Cleveland long enough to be one of the team’s constants. This will be his sixth full season in a Cavaliers jersey, and it might end up being his biggest yet in wine and gold.
Even with missed time last season, Allen still gave the Cavs plenty. He posted 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and shot 63.8 percent from the field. If he can get above 56 games this year and stay near those numbers, his value only climbs.
A big part of that value comes on the glass. The Cavaliers had rebounding issues during the preseason, and Allen’s presence is a major answer to that problem.
Over the last two seasons, he has averaged just under three offensive rebounds per game, which is an area where the Cavs have been lacking. If he pushes that number back above three, like he did for most of his career, he becomes even more important.
There is also the question of what Allen looks like when he is the only big on the floor. In that setup, the pick-and-roll matters even more, and his ability to be efficient there with Mitchell or Harden on the court could give Kenny Atkinson another reason to lean on him more often.
One thing that should not become a habit: the three-pointer. Allen hit one in the preseason, but that should not turn into a regular part of his game. He built his reputation as one of the NBA’s most efficient players by going to the basket, and that remains his strength.
The other issue is late-game usage. Last season, Allen often did not close games, and that, in the writer’s view, hurt Cleveland in clutch time.
It is understandable, since playing two bigs down the stretch is not easy, which is part of why Atkinson leaned toward Evan Mobley instead. But that approach came with a cost, because the rebounding dropped and the Cavs had trouble finishing possessions.
If Allen can work his way into clutch minutes this season, that could end up being a major boost for Cleveland.
There are plenty of things for the Cavs to monitor in 2026-27, but Allen’s role is one of the biggest. His worth is going to be a major storyline for Cleveland fans this season.
In Other News...
Jarrett Allen Just Put Clevelands Biggest Lineup Question In Focus
Jarrett Allens remarks this week landed in a familiar place for the Cavaliers, where the conversation has long circled back to lineup continuity and how much time the core actually gets to work together. Allen said he and several key teammates barely shared the floor last season, a reality that made it harder for Cleveland to build the kind of rhythm it wants heading into another push in the East.
The encouraging part for the Cavs is that Allen sounded confident the group can be sharper with a steadier run together this year, especially if the roster gets the kind of uninterrupted stretch it lacked before. For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to answer how its best pieces fit in high-leverage moments, that kind of continuity may end up mattering as much as anything else. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylon Tyson Is Forcing A New Coaching Challenge For The Cavs
Jaylon Tyson has made enough of an impression in Cleveland that Kenny Atkinson is already having to manage more than just his on-court development. Entering his third NBA season, Tyson has flashed real upside, including a 39-point game and a Rising Stars appearance, and the Cavaliers are still sorting through the best way to mold that potential into a lasting rotation piece.
The coaching challenge now is less about talent than tone. Atkinson said Tyson responds best to positive coaching, which is a useful note for a young player trying to carve out his place on a veteran-minded team, especially with Cleveland holding a team option on him for the 2027-28 season that must be decided by Oct. 31. For a player still trying to secure his long-term standing, the next stretch could say a lot about how the Cavs plan to handle him moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jarrett Allen Just Gave Cavs Fans Another Reason To Love Him
Jarrett Allen has long fit Clevelands vibe, and his latest appearance only reinforced it. On a Sunday before the Browns hosted the Ravens, Allen was out in the Muni Lot playing beer die with fans at a tailgate event, a relaxed bit of hometown mixing that always seems to land well with the citys sports crowd. It also came at a time when the big man is settling into his sixth full season with the Cavaliers, with his status as one of the teams more recognizable faces only growing over time.
For Cavs fans, the timing makes the moment even more notable. Cleveland is closing in on its regular-season opener against the 76ers, and Allen has already been part of recent preseason action as the team gets ready to start the year. The connection with the city has never really felt forced, and scenes like this are part of why he continues to be such an easy player for the fan base to embrace. [Read more 🡒]