The Cleveland Cavaliers have added another name to the mix, and that makes their frontcourt picture a lot messier than it looks on paper.
Peyton Watson gives them another coveted piece in free agency, and with James Harden also back in town, the starting group suddenly looks stronger. But the fit question is staring them right in the face: the Cavs are carrying three non-shooters in the starting five, and that’s the kind of imbalance that can get exposed in today’s league.
That puts Jarrett Allen squarely in the conversation. With Watson and Evan Mobley as building blocks, Allen looks like the odd man out. At the very least, Cleveland has to talk through every possible path with him.
Allen is under contract through the 2028-29 season and is set to make just over $30 million a year. That’s expensive for a non-star, but not so expensive that he’d be impossible to move. A player who can pile up double-doubles and clean the glass will always have a market.
Still, dealing him would leave the Cavs thin at center and without an obvious upgrade waiting in the wings. If the return doesn’t include someone cheaper, younger, or with more upside, Cleveland would be looking at either moving Mobley to the five or going smaller, possibly with Nae'Qwan Tomlin. Either route would keep the same spacing issues in play.
There’s also the physical toll to consider. Mobley can handle himself against bigger bodies in spots, but his lanky frame doesn’t exactly scream full-time bruiser. Asking him to absorb that kind of punishment down low is a real concern.
Of course, the simplest answer is to keep Allen. That’s the path of least resistance.
But the playoff history is hard to ignore. Year after year, Allen has played himself off the floor in the postseason, and while he excelled in the pick-and-roll with James Harden, Harden isn’t exactly a sure thing to sustain that level when the games get bigger.
That’s why benching Allen has to be on the table, even if it’s not the popular answer. Coming off the second unit would let Cleveland deploy him in more favorable matchups, keep his offensive rebounding in play, and avoid giving up size when it matters.
It would also open the door for Thomas Bryant, who doesn’t bring much defensively but can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting. With Mobley and Watson behind him, the Cavs could cover some of those defensive gaps in certain lineups.
There are arguments both ways, and no clean solution jumps out. Kenny Atkinson may very well stick with the status quo, but not at least examining how Allen fits with the contract he’s on would be a mistake.
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For a team that has spent the offseason balancing depth, fit and flexibility, the signing fits the broader search for help around the edges of the roster. The Cavaliers are not handing out a guaranteed role, but they are giving themselves another look at a player who could make the bench conversation more complicated if he finds his footing quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Last Roster Spot Suddenly Carries More Weight Than Expected
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One option under consideration is Saliou Niang, a 2025 second-round pick whose rights the Cavaliers control. Niang has spent time playing overseas and is also tied up with LSU and international competition, which adds another layer to a front office already sorting through timing, availability and fit. For a team still looking to add size before camp opens, the final move may end up being less about filling a seat and more about finding the right kind of big man at the right moment. [Read more 🡒]