2021 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
By Duncan Smith
Jarrett Allen – 4 years, $100 million (Cleveland Cavaliers)
The Cleveland Cavaliers have their center of the future, and they also have Jarrett Allen whom they have re-signed to a four-year, $100 million contract. It’s a lot of money to pay up for a traditional center who will play alongside Evan Mobley, who was the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft a week ago.
Maybe the Cavs will be in the next wave of teams embracing massive front lines, and it could work if Mobley’s 3-pointer develops. That might be optimistic, though, and it’s just as likely that the Cavs are lost in the woods and not very good at this.
Grade: D
JaMychal Green – 2 years, $17 million (Denver Nuggets)
The Denver Nuggets acquired JaMychal Green last offseason as a replacement for the departed Jerami Grant. He was definitely a Grant-lite, at best, but he provided some defense and did shoot 39.9 percent from 3-point range so his productivity shouldn’t be undersold.
The Nuggets are going to struggle to replicate last season’s performance without Jamal Murray for most (or all) of next season, but returning as much of that core as possible will be a favorable move for the organization and this is a value deal.