Jarrett Allen credited Alfredo sauce as the impetus for his breakout game against Utah earlier this year. At $2.50 a jar, Allen could buy an airport hangar’s worth of Alfredo with the money he’s about to make from the Cavaliers, assuming the restricted free agent accepts Cleveland’s reported five-year, $100-million offer sheet.
That’s a hefty sum for a player most casual fans would probably have to look up on Wikipedia, but for those who may have missed it, the former Net has quietly emerged as one of the sport’s better young big men, averaging a double-double (12.8 points, 10.0 rebounds per game) on elite 61.8-percent shooting last season. Beyond his impact on the glass and around the bucket, Allen also thrived defensively, finishing 29th out of 250 qualified players in defensive rating, per FiveThirtyEight.com. Allen was especially productive after his midseason trade (he was part of a four-team, seven-player swap headlined by Brooklyn's acquisition of former MVP James Harden), posting averages of 13.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks over 51 games including 40 starts for Cleveland.
A fan favorite known for his affable demeanor and tremendous head of hair (his afro rivals the one worn by Ben Wallace during his Pistons heyday), Allen has both the size and athleticism necessary to be a significant low-post contributor in the Rock and Roll City for years to come. While Shams Charania of The Athletic had previously earmarked the Raptors as a “strong suitor” for the 23-year-old, due to his status as a “restricted” free agent, the Cavaliers can retain Allen by matching any offer he receives on the open market.
Pairing Allen with newcomer Evan Mobley (selected third overall in Thursday night’s NBA Draft) would give the Cavs a ferocious interior presence, complementing a potent backcourt anchored by the high-scoring tandem of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. Cleveland prioritizing Allen in free agency can be taken as another sign the Cavs are ready to move on from injury-prone veteran Kevin Love, who played sparingly last season (25 appearances).
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