Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers' decision to select USC big man Evan Mobley with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft reportedly will not deter them from keeping Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt for the foreseeable future.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, Cleveland is "preparing an offer in the five-year, $100 million range" for Allen.

Allen entered this offseason as a restricted free agent.

There were indications the Cavaliers wanted to keep Allen beyond the end of the 2020-21 season when they acquired him from the Brooklyn Nets via trade in January.

In February, Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that Cleveland decided to keep Andre Drummond benched while it explored trading him.

"The Cavaliers are moving to make Jarrett Allen the franchise's long-term starting center and believe it's unfair to Drummond to limit his minutes as the organization transitions to Allen," Wojnarowski and Windhorst wrote at the time.

Cleveland reached a buyout agreement with Drummond, who ended up joining the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen, on the other hand, appeared in 51 games for the Cavaliers this past season and averaged 13.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks a night behind 60.9 percent shooting from the field.

The University of Texas product is just 23 years old and can be part of the future in Cleveland alongside Mobley, Darius Garland and Collin Sexton. Stein's report even mentioned the team is looking to "pair him with" the USC rookie.

Allen's ability as a rim protector immediately stands out, as opponents shot 10.3 percent worse than their normal averages when he guarded them within six feet of the basket in 2020-21, per NBA.com.

If he brings that type of defense on a nightly basis during the course of this new contract, he could help the Cavaliers compete for playoff spots in the Eastern Conference once again.

Jarrett Allen will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers after agreeing to a five-year, $100 million extension, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

To some extent, the Cavs painted themselves into a corner when they acquired Allen from the Brooklyn Nets as part of the sprawling James Harden trade. They knew the 23-year-old was eligible for restricted free agency, so many expected a long-term contract from Cleveland to be forthcoming in the offseason.

ESPN's Kevin Pelton explained at the time of the deal the team "might unintentionally invite offers from other teams designed to drive up his price because of the assumption the Cavaliers will pay to retain him."

In general, that's always one of the dangers with restricted free agency. In one of the more notable recent examples, the Sacramento Kings handed Zach LaVine a four-year, $78 million offer sheet, one the Chicago Bulls had little choice but to match.

In other cases, however, teams can be wary of extending any offer sheets when they know it's likely to be matched. Cleveland had this happen with Tristan Thompson during the 2015 offseason as negotiations between the two sides dragged on.

Allen played well with the Cavs, thus providing them with plenty of reasons to pencil him into their long-term plans.

The 6'11" center averaged 13.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 51 games. He also shot 60.9 percent from the field. His best performance came in a 112-96 win over the Houston Rockets on Feb. 24. The center finished with 26 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks while missing just one of his 11 shot attempts.

Given his age, Allen is a logical fit for a franchise building around Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Isaac Okoro. The Cavaliers also selected USC center Evan Mobley with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft to add to their young core.

But this move comes with some obvious risks for Cleveland.

Paying a premium for big men isn't a necessity in today's NBA. The organization saw this firsthand with Andre Drummond when it eventually bought him out in March after his trade market evaporated.

While this isn't on the same level as Kristaps Porzingis' max extension from the Dallas Mavericks, it could be a similar situation in that the Cavs wind up paying a lot for Allen when a similar player could be had for much less money.

Allen hasn't expanded his offensive repertoire too much, either. His six three-pointers in 2020-21 matched his career high, and 72 percent of his shot attempts came within five feet of the basket, according to NBA.com.

But rim protection is likely to be an even more prized asset at a time when superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson are making a living in the paint. Allen held opposing players to 52.0 percent shooting inside six feet and 51.1 percent inside 10 feet, per NBA.com.

And even if he doesn't develop a long-range jumper, the former Texas star can form a dynamic pick-and-roll combination with Garland.

The Cavs have been a bit rudderless after LeBron James left for the second time to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. With Allen locked in, their outlook is looking more positive.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are no longer expected to pursue free-agent guards Alex Caruso or T.J. McConnell after acquiring Ricky Rubio ahead of the 2021 NBA draft.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported both players were on Cleveland's radar before adding Rubio, who will serve as the backup to Darius Garland next season.

It would be a major surprise if the Lakers were outbid for Caruso given their massive depth issues following the acquisition of Russell Westbrook. Caruso has proved himself to be a quality rotation piece the last two seasons, and the Lakers can use their Bird rights to entice the 27-year-old into returning.

Provided Lakers management is not worried about a luxury tax bill, Caruso should be back in Los Angeles next season regardless of the outside pursuit.

McConnell will see significant interest across the NBA as teams seek out a quality backup point guard who won't break the bank. He averaged a career-high 8.6 points and 6.6 assists last season with the Indiana Pacers. While he never developed a consistent three-point shot, McConnell finishes at the rim way better than expected for someone with his lack of explosive athleticism and could command a full mid-level exception on the open market.

The Cavs will likely focus on shoring up their wing and re-signing Jarrett Allen in free agency.

The Cleveland Cavaliers added arguably the best big man of the entire 2021 NBA draft when they selected USC's Evan Mobley with the No. 3 overall pick on Thursday. 

If he lives up to expectations, he will be the anchor for Cleveland's frontcourt for years to come.

        

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Evan Mobley

Position: PF/Center

Height: 7'0''

Pro Comparison: Pau Gasol/Bam Adebayo

Scouting Report: Mobley's length and mobility for a 7-footer creates elite defensive potential. But prime Mobley will also be a problem offensively with his open-floor ball-handling, ability to shoot off the dribble, overall touch and finishing above the rim.

Cavaliers Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Kevin Love, PF: $30.1M (2023)

Taurean Prince, PF: $12.6M (2022)

Larry Nance Jr., PF: $11.2M (2023)

Cedi Osman, SF: $7.8M (2024)

Darius Garland, PG: $6.7M (2023)

Evan Mobley, C: $6.53M (2025)

Isaac Okoro, SG: $6.6M (2024)

Collin Sexton, PG: $5M (2022)

Dylan Windler, SG: $2.1M (2023)

Damyean Dotson, SG: $2M (2022)

Lamar Stevens, PF: $1.3M (2024)

Mfiondu Kabengele, PF: $1.2M (2023)

Dean Wade, PF: $1.2M (2023)

     

Free Agents

Jarrett Allen, C: RFA

Matthew Dellavedova, PG: UFA

Isaiah Hartenstein, C: UFA

Jeremiah Martin, G: RFA

Brodric Thomas, G: RFA

Mobley played just one season for the Trojans and made the most of it as a consensus All-American, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year behind 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.4 assists per game.

His ability to protect the rim, guard multiple positions, score on the blocks and extend his offensive arsenal to the outside if needed helped lead USC to the Elite Eight.

He will now look to guide the Cavs to the playoffs in the future. The USC alum will play alongside Jarrett Allen, assuming he re-signs as a restricted free agent, to give Cleveland a very intriguing young backcourt. 

There's still a lot of work for Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman, but he now has a very promising nucleus to build around. 

The Cavaliers have their big man of the future after they selected USC's Evan Mobley with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft on Thursday.

And Mobley is about to make some head-turning money on his rookie contract.

According to RealGM's projection for the 2021-22 NBA rookie scale, the No. 3 pick will receive $6,729,300 in first-year salary, $7,065,600 in second-year salary and $7,402,300 in third-year salary.

Additionally, the fourth-year option is a 26.4 percent increase over the third-year salary, and the qualifying option is a 31.2 percent increase over the fourth-year salary.

However, it should be noted that first-round picks can sign for as little as 80 percent of the rookie scale or for as much as 120 percent of it.

Whatever Mobley ultimately signs for will be well worth it for Cleveland if he lives up to expectations after starring in his one season with the Trojans. He averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.4 assists per game and was a consensus All-American, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

He was a primary reason USC advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

Mobley delivered double-doubles in his team's first-round win over Drake and second-round stunner over Kansas. He also scored 17 points in USC's Elite Eight loss to Gonzaga.

It's not just the statistics that stand out about Mobley's game.

He is versatile enough to protect the rim or defend smaller players on the perimeter on the defensive side. He can also work in pick-and-rolls or pick-and-pops as a mid-range shooter or athletic slasher to the basket all while scoring on the blocks if needed.

That versatility should help the San Diego native immediately play his way into the Cavaliers rotation during his rookie season and start earning the contract that is coming his way.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly still listening to trade offers for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, but it would take a lot for them to trade down.

"A source maintain it would take a 'Godfather' offer for them to willingly move out of tier one," Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported, referring to an offer they can't refuse.

Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley are considered the clear top three prospects in the class. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman ranked them respectively before No. 4 Jalen Suggs.

The interest in moving up has been high ahead of Thursday's draft, with teams still making offers to the Detroit Pistons to get the No. 1 overall pick, per Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.

Cleveland could use additional assets as it tries to turn things around after three straight losing seasons, although getting an elite prospect would also go a long way toward returning to the postseason.

Wasserman projects the Cavaliers to select USC center Evan Mobley, which would give the team a versatile center who is perfect for the modern NBA with his ability to help in a variety of areas.

The 7'0" Mobley averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game as a freshman last year, winning the Pac-12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. He can help as a rim-protector or perimeter defender, scoring inside while also creating looks with his handle on the outside.

While restricted free agent Jarrett Allen is valuable in the post, Mobley is more versatile and could also provide low-court balance alongside the young backcourt duo of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland.

A trade would create more uncertainty for Cleveland as it continues its rebuild. 

Rebuilds often require plenty of draft capital in the NBA, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly looking to add more of just that ahead of Thursday's draft.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN reported the Eastern Conference squad that already has the No. 3 overall pick is "one of the most active teams in the league on the trade-talk front, rumored to be making overtures to acquire a second pick in the top 10 while pondering the viability of offering a rich contract extension for leading scorer Collin Sexton."

That Cleveland is "pondering the viability" of making Sexton a major part of its future is notable considering he is scheduled for restricted free agency in 2022 and could theoretically be a trade chip for a high draft pick if the team decides to go that route.

He would also be a valuable player in any trade considering he is just 22 years old and someone who could be a key piece in the backcourt for either a contender or club looking to jump-start the future with a productive young guard.

Sexton averaged 24.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 37.1 percent of three-pointers during the 2020-21 campaign.

The field-goal percentage and scoring totals were both career-high marks, although the Cavaliers also have Darius Garland in the backcourt and may look to build around him if they trade Sexton and potentially land two picks in the top 10.

A report from Chris Fedor of cleveland.com also highlights how much the Cavaliers like multiple players in this draft:

The Cavaliers hold the third pick in the draft. While many believe they will choose from an exciting pool of four prospects—Cade Cunningham (likely the top pick), Evan Mobley, Green and Jalen Suggs—the Cavs made a commitment shortly after the lottery to do their due diligence and expand the search beyond that quartet. Fully expecting to be drafting in the 5-10 range before rare lottery luck, the Cavs did plenty of homework on players in that next tier. They like that group. They talked to a few of them at the NBA combine.

It isn't that surprising, then, that the Cavaliers may want to get another top-10 pick and draft two of the players they studied.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Jarrett Allen have "mutual interest" in a new deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Charania noted the Toronto Raptors could also be "among the strong suitors" for Allen, having attempted to trade for the center in the past.

Allen is a restricted free agent this offseason, which will give the Cavaliers the opportunity to match if he signs an offer sheet with another team. This means it could require a significant contract offer to get him out of Cleveland after the organization traded for him in January.

The 23-year-old averaged 12.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game last season in 63 games between the Brooklyn Nets and Cavaliers. His efficiency on both ends of the court helped him lead Cleveland with 5.0 win shares in just 51 games with the team, per Basketball Reference.

The Cavaliers had two-time All-Star Andre Drummond on the roster to begin the year but decided to sit him in February in an effort to put Allen in a more prominent role as the squad's long-term answer at center, per Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Drummond was eventually waived after the trade deadline.

It indicates the Cavs see Allen as a part of the future core alongside fellow young building blocks Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro.

The Raptors could also use an efficient center to team with Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby to return to contention in the Eastern Conference, but getting Allen away from Cleveland will not be easy.

In an unsurprising move, the Cleveland Cavaliers have extended a qualifying offer to Jarrett Allen that will make him a restricted free agent, according to Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor. 

The qualifying offer is projected to be worth $7.7 million. 

Allen was acquired in January as part of the four-team deal that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. He showed tremendous promise for the Cavs after the move, averaging 13.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in 51 appearances. 

Even though he was eligible to become a restricted free agent this offseason, the expectation since the trade happened is that Cleveland would do what it takes to keep the 23-year-old.

Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com reported in May that Allen is going to receive "$100 million or more" on an extension from the Cavaliers. 

As a restricted free agent, the Cavs will have the ability to match any potential offer that the Texas product receives from another team. 

Cleveland has a promising young core with Allen, Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. The roster around that trio is still a work in progress for general manager Koby Altman. He is going to have another high lottery pick to boost the team's depth and ceiling. 

Allen should be a big part of Cleveland's future given his age and upside heading into his sixth season in the NBA. The team has given itself the ability to keep him around by extending him a qualifying offer.

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly "hope to move" veteran power forward Kevin Love during the 2021 NBA offseason.

Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported Thursday the $60 million remaining on Love's four-year, $120.4 million contract over the next two seasons is a motivating factor in the Cavs' desire to trade him.

Love was originally scheduled to play for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics, which could have helped bolster his trade value after an injury-plagued NBA campaign, but he withdrew from the roster, citing his continued recovery from a right calf injury.

"I am incredibly disappointed to not be heading to Tokyo with Team USA, but you need to be at absolute peak performance to compete at the Olympic level and I am just not there yet," the five-time All-Star said.

The 32-year-old UCLA product averaged 12.2 points, his lowest total since his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008-09, along with 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 threes across 25 appearances for the Cavaliers in 2020-21.

In the past, Love was a double-double machine with the ability to stretch the floor offensively. He averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 threes in 77 games for Minnesota in 2013-14.

Now, questions about his recent injuries combined with his age will make his contract a very tough sell on the trade market in the coming weeks. Cleveland will surely have to attach considerable assets to move him, though he could still offer help for a contender seeking an offensive boost.

In May on the Posted Up podcast with Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, he mentioned a return to Oregon, where he played high school basketball, as an intriguing possibility:

Who wouldn't want to play with Dame Lillard, first of all. Dame, he's special. He's amazing. I claim Portland when they ask me where I'm from. It's where I spent all of my formative years. I grew up in Portland. When people ask where I was born, obviously I say L.A. But Portland is always going to be a special place in my heart. Whether it be at the end of my career, whether it be in six months, or whatever it may be, if I was wearing a Portland jersey, that's special. That's playing at home.

It could be a fit on paper as the Blazers continue to seek roster changes around the backcourt tandem of Lillard and CJ McCollum, but it's unclear whether Love is a target for the team's front office.

Love is a holdover from the Cavaliers' 2016 championship squad, but the franchise is now focused on a rebuild that will continue with the No. 3 overall pick in Thursday's 2021 NBA draft.