The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the more disappointing teams in the 2023 NBA playoffs. They lost in five games to the New York Knicks in the first round, and none of their players came out of that series with their heads held high.
The one who struggled the most was arguably Jarrett Allen, who averaged just 9.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. He admitted afterward that the lights were brighter than he expected, and because of those struggles, the Cavs are now more open to trading him, as per NBA insider Marc Stein.
“On the same subject, there have been some whispers this week that the Cavaliers are more open to trading Jarrett Allen than advertised for the opposite reason: He appeared to struggle with the moment at various points of the Cavaliers’ five-game exit to the [New York] Knicks,” Stein wrote.
It would be a bit unfair to label Allen as a playoff choker, but the series against the Knicks certainly wasn’t his finest hour. There was a significant drop-off in his play, as he had averaged 14.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 1.2 BPG during the regular season.
The Cavs aren’t trying to ship him off though, but it is somewhat understandable that they are open to the idea of parting ways. He certainly still has some value around the league as well, thanks to his defense and rebounding. Allen also excels in the pick-and-roll and could be a very good acquisition for teams that need a big, like the Dallas Mavericks.
The Cavaliers Could Trade Darius Garland
It is apparently not just Allen who could be on his way out, as NBA insider Sam Amico reported the team is open to discussing trades for Darius Garland. This was certainly quite a surprise, as you’d have assumed that the Cavs would make Garland untouchable in trade talks.
The issue, though, could be that he and Donovan Mitchell are just too short of a backcourt at 6’1″ each. With Mitchell certainly not going anywhere, if they were to make a trade, it would be to move Garland. Mitchell seemed to pour cold water on this report, but the Cavaliers are certainly a team to keep an eye on.
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