NBA: Biggest overpays in NBA free agency so far

Biggest overpay in NBA Free Agency:  Jarett Allen

The Cleveland Cavaliers gave Jarrett Allen a $100 million contract over five seasons.  The Allen contract has been foreshadowed Since last January, when the Cavaliers acquired Allen in a 4 team trade.

They sent Dante Exum and Milwaukee’s 2022 first-round pick to Houston. Cleveland also sent the lesser of Utah and their 2024 second round draft picks to Brooklyn. A non-contending team, like Cleveland, wouldn’t have given up such a hefty price for Jarett Allen if they weren’t committed to re-signing him, as they acquired Allen with less than one year remaining on his contract.

Although Cleveland acquired Allen last November, intending to resign him, Allen is no longer a good fit. Allen is a player who excels close to the basket. For instance, Allen has thrived when he cuts to the basket.

He has averaged 4 cuts per game since 2017, shooting 66.2 percent from the field on 2 shots a game. The shooting percentage helps him average 3.3 points per game: 30.8percent of his scoring output.

Allen has been able to complement his cutting prowess with his success as a roll man. Allen has rolled to the basket 3 times per game since 2016, shooting 68.1 percent from the field on 2.2 shots per game. The field goal percentage has helped him average 3.8 points per game as a roll man: 35.5 percent of his scoring output.

Unfortunately, the Cavaliers drafted a player a week before free agency, who also needs to be close to the basket: Evan Mobley. According to SynergySports.com (Athletic $$), 42 percent of Mobley’s possessions at USC were below the free-throw line, as he was used as a roll man in the low post and as a cutter.

More importantly, neither Allen nor Mobley can stretch the floor at this current time. Jarett Allen has converted only 20 percent of his threes since 2017 on 0.3 attempts per game. Mobley only fared a little bit better during his only season at USC, converting 30 percent of his shots from behind the arc on 1.2 attempts. Consequently, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have two defenders constantly close to the basket on offense because neither of their two big men can stretch the floor.

Allen’s contract has also compromised the Cleveland Cavaliers off the court. Before free agency, there were several reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers could only afford to extend one of Collin Sexton or Allen.

If these reports still remain valid, extending Allen is going to force the Cavaliers to trade Sexton. Trading Sexton would be a bad idea for them as he is a better fit with their first-round pick, Mobley.

Sexton accounted for 43.6 percent of the team’s pick and rolls last season, averaging 8.8 per game. He shot 45.3 percent from the field in the pick and roll on 6.9 shots a game, creating 8.1 points: 49.4 percent of the team’s pick and roll production.

Furthermore, Sexton would be a great off-the-ball fit when Mobley is in the low post, as he has made 42.8 percent of his catch and shoots on 2.1 attempts per game. Catch and shoots were responsible for 53.8 percent of his attempts as he shot 38.5 percent from behind the arc on 3.9 attempts.

Although Allen is a good player, the moves that the Cleveland Cavaliers made before free agency makes him a bad fit for them right now.