Quantifying Jarrett Allen’s value to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Despite already having a former All-Star center in Andre Drummond on the roster, Koby Altman and the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped on the opportunity to trade for Jarrett Allen last year – a decision that has looked masterful ever since.

Drummond did not last long after the trade. His numbers plummetted and his value sank as he was ultimately bought out at the deadline.

Allen, on the other hand, signed a five-year extension in the offseason and is likely prepping for his first All-Star Game in front of his home crowd this February.

The 23-year-old center has proven to be worth every penny as he is a core reason behind Cleveland’s 30-19 record. He’s clearly one of their most integral players – but how impactful has he truly been?

Jarrett Allen has been one of the most valuable players for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, but just how valuable is he?

The Cavaliers are within a game of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and none of it would be possible without Allen. Let’s break down his contributions.

On the surface, Allen is averaging a career-high 16.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He’s also blocking 1.4 shots per game, good for the 18th most in the league this season.

Digging a little deeper, we can see how steady of a presence Allen has become in Cleveland. He is on the verge of becoming the first player in NBA history to average 15+ points and 10+ rebounds on 70 percent shooting from the floor. He is currently shooting 68.9 percent.

His improved footwork has allowed him to punish opponents in the post with slick up-and-under moves and pump-fakes that help him explode to the rim uncontested. Allen has finished 64.3 percent of his post-ups, 13 percent more than last year.

Piecing it all together, Allen’s ability to pack the paint benefits the Cavaliers on both ends of the floor. He ranks 13th in total field goals defended, holding opponents 6.1 percent below their usual efficiency. Allen is a plus-173 in his 41 games this season.

Most of all, key members of the Cavaliers play better when Allen is on the floor. He acts as Darius Garland’s first option, accounting for 23 percent of DG’s total assists (81 of 352).

Without Allen, Garland is easily swarmed by help-defenders in the paint. In contrast, the constant ariel threat that JA poses is enough to free Garland up for easy floaters, and he is finishing 55.0 percent of his runners.

The same trend can be seen when looking at Allen and Evan Mobley’s relationship. As fantastic as the rookie has been, he is still a step behind the rapid speed of the NBA when he is playing center in Allen’s absence.

Mobley can be late to rotate to the rim when Allen isn’t there to cover the paint. To no surprise, Cleveland has a DRTG of 99.9 with the duo versus 102.3 with just Mobley. The twin seven-footers build a nearly impenetrable wall in the paint.

Cleveland is 28-13 this season with Allen in the lineup and just 2-6 without him. Allen’s value is obvious both with the eye test and with advanced metrics.