With Evan Mobley's development taking a front seat once again, the Cleveland Cavaliers had Jarrett Allen doing the dirty work. He was a screen setter, a rebounder, and a rim protector first and foremost. He's been an important role player in a sense over the last couple of years, which is perfectly fine for how this team is constructed.

Like many of his teammates, Allen dealt with injuries that affected his performance. He was behind the eight-ball to start the year with two finger fractures on each hand, which made it hard for him to catch around the rim. He didn't have his usual touch on jump hooks or near the cylinder. 

Once those digits healed, Allen unsurprisingly took off. When Mobley sat with his calf injury, Cleveland's center dominated the paint. He was rim running, calling for the ball, and defending the cup like nobody else. In February, he was a nominee for NBA Player of the Month. His most memorable performance was a monstrous 40-point, 17-rebound effort in Portland on the first of the month.

When James Harden got to town, Allen built on the momentum he'd been building. He was a perfectly fit pick-and-roll partner for the veteran star guard. Unfortunately, as the postseason drew near, Allen began suffering from right knee tendinitis. It took him a couple of weeks to get his bearings back underneath him, but judging by his best games in the postseason, he was able to do so, just not consistently.

Allen was a force in two separate win-or-go-home games in the first two rounds, taking the Toronto Raptors to task in Cleveland and keeping the Detroit Pistons at home in Motown. He was a key cog in the Cavs making it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in eight years.

REGULAR SEASON STATS

15.4 POINTS | 8.5 REBOUNDS | 1.8 ASSISTS | 63.8% FG | 1.0 STEALS | 70.9% FT

PLAYOFF STATS

12.7 POINTS | 7.2 REBOUNDS | 1.1 ASSISTS | 63.5% FG | 1.0 STEALS | 57.9% FT

Similar to Mobley, the Cavs are at their best when Allen is touching the ball. He is extremely polished in the restricted area with his footwork and soft hands. Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson wants to abide by the mantra of "reward the big man," but the team goes away from them much too often.

Allen's involvement was always going to decrease as Mobley's maturation furthered. The Wine and Gold are better off when Allen is featured more offensively, but if this is the path it continues down, then there could be reason for the franchise to see what's out there on the trade market. 

It should also be known that Allen's contract is set to balloon in the next couple of years. While the grass isn't always greener on the other side if you're the Cavs, the cupboard is starting to empty in terms of assets.

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