Sports
NBA Rumors: Cavs Hesitant on Jarrett Allen Trade; Donovan Mitchell a 'Fan' of Center – Bleacher Report
The Cleveland Cavaliers could be reluctant to trade Jarrett Allen because Donovan Mitchell wants to keep playing with him, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“One reason I’ve heard for the Cavaliers’ reported reluctance to trade Jarrett Allen despite ongoing questions about Allen’s fit in the same frontcourt alongside the emerging Evan Mobley: Donovan Mitchell is often described as an Allen fan who doesn’t want to lose him as a teammate,” Stein wrote.
Stein wrote last month that Allen had “numerous admirers in rival front offices.”
Meanwhile Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported Wednesday there is “a league-wide expectation” that Mitchell is planning to sign an extension in Cleveland.
Fischer also reported that the Cavaliers are “not expected to entertain trade offers for any member of its core four at this time.” That list would include Mitchell and Allen as well as Mobley and Darius Garland.
Mitchell will be eligible to sign a four-year, $208.5 million extension this offseason.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto said Wednesday on the HoopsHype Podcast that “several rival executives” believe that Mitchell will at least commit to three more seasons with the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers reporter Chris Fedor backed Scotto’s report, saying the team was working on making other moves that they believe will make Mitchell happy to stay in Cleveland.
“They believe making this coaching change and going away from JB Bickerstaff is a step that shows Donovan that they’re trying to be proactive and better themselves as an organization,” Fedor said about the Cavaliers’ efforts to retain Mitchell. “They’re trying to make moves that make him happy.”
Fedor concluded: “Everything the Cavs do this offseason is with an idea in mind of how this is going to affect our chances of keeping Donovan.”
The motivation to make Mitchell happy to ink an extension in Cleveland, which he didn’t do last offseason despite being eligible, could be enough for the Cavaliers decide to retain Allen despite his struggles to find offensive chemistry with Mobley on the frontcourt.
That means Mobley could be continuing his development in his fourth NBA season alongside Allen as the Cavaliers look to run its current core back around Mitchell next fall.
