Cleveland Cavaliers star Jarrett Allen dropped 18 spots in ESPN's NBA player rankings for the 2026-27 season.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen dropped 18 spots in ESPN's NBA player rankings for the 2026-27 season.
Allen was ranked No. 45 for the 2025-26 season. He's ranked No. 63 for the upcoming campaign.
"The Cavaliers will get a full season of Allen running on-ball screens with James Harden, an action they went to quite a bit after Harden arrived in Cleveland," ESPN wrote. "According to GeniusIQ, Allen set 13.7 on-ball screens per game with Harden as the ball handler, ranking in the top five among duos to run 100 pick actions together from Feb. 7 until the end of the regular season. Allen also had a jump in his offensive production in the 13 regular-season games he played with Harden, averaging 18.4 points and 70.5% shooting from the field."
Allen will make $28 million next season. The Texas product averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season while shooting 63.8% from the field and 70.9% from the free-throw line. He recorded 20 double-doubles.
In the 2026 playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks, Allen put up 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest. The Knicks swept Allen and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
A one-time All-Star, Allen has played for the Brooklyn Nets and Cavaliers. He holds career averages of 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The big man doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract.
Cleveland will start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Allen next season. If the team gets off to a slow start, Allen could be moved.
Cleveland opens next season against LeBron James and the 76ers in Philadelphia. That will be an electric atmosphere.
The Cavaliers are under major pressure to reach the NBA Finals since they have an expensive roster. Cleveland will pay Mitchell and Mobley a combined $133 million in 2029-30.
If the Cavaliers falter in the 2027 playoffs, don't be surprised if Mitchell, Harden and Allen are not on the team in 2027-28. And if Cleveland is struggling near the 2027 NBA trade deadline, we could see an in-season Allen trade.
