Jarrett Allen, the center for the Cavaliers, and Cleveland have reached an agreement on a three-year, $91 million contract deal, a source familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been finalized, claimed that Allen, who has emerged as a vital contributor for the Cavs and is among the best big men in the Eastern Conference, will receive a guaranteed $131 million over the next five years.
According to the source, Allen’s deal with the Cavaliers may be announced as early as Thursday.
Derrick Powell, one of Allen’s agents, previously gave ESPN information on the arrangement.
Along with All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, guard Darius Garland, and forward Evan Mobley, Allen is a member of Cleveland’s “Core 4.” After helping the Cavs qualify for the postseason for the second straight season, this squad went on to win the conference semifinals before falling to eventual champion Boston in the first round.
The Cavaliers have signed three significant players to extensions this summer: Mitchell (3 years, $150.3 million) and Mobley (5 years, $224 million). Allen, 26, is the third player to sign an agreement. Kenny Atkinson was also appointed as the team’s new coach.
In 77 games for Cleveland last season, Allen—an All-Star in 2022—averaged a career-high 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
When Garland and Mobley were down, he was particularly useful as former Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff used the 6-foot-11 center to generate some offense.
Allen had a solid start against Orlando in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, but he later suffered a broken rib. This came after he was criticized for being overwhelmed by New York’s frontline and for indicating that the Cavs might have been under too much pressure. He missed the whole series against the Celtics as well as the final three games against the Magic due to this ailment.
