Jarrett Allen, Cleveland’s $109 million All-Star center, is staring down the barrel of a tough exit from the Cavaliers. All those flashy moves for James Harden and Peyton Watson? They are making his future in Cleveland look bleak, and frankly, it feels a little wild how fast this went down. The Cavs made some huge plays this summer, but the bill is coming due, and it looks like Allen is the one who will pay.
Harden’s Historic Money Move and the Watson Haul
Cleveland really thinks they’ve found their “next great duo” with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, even after falling short in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. And man, did they back that belief up with Harden’s new deal. The guy opted out of his previous contract to give the team more flexibility, then signed a new three-year, $97 million contract. That deal comes with a player option for the 2028-29 season and even a trade kicker. What’s even crazier? ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that once Harden finishes this new contract, his career earnings will blast past the $500 million mark, putting him in an exclusive club with only LeBron James and Kevin Durant. That’s serious, historic money right there.
But Harden wasn’t the only big move. The Cavaliers went out and traded for Peyton Watson this summer, too. Joseph Rucker from Bleacher Report laid out the details: Denver is shipping Watson to Cleveland, and in return, the Cavs are sending their 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-rounder that originally came from the Sacramento Kings. To make room for Watson and give him a new four-year, $88 million contract, Cleveland also sent Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers. There were even some other minor moves that pulled in the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets to get that deal done. It was a whirlwind of transactions, for sure.
The Financial Crunch And Allen’s Inevitable Exit
All those massive deals, the big contracts for Harden and Watson, they don’t come free. Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney made it clear: the money situation is going to become a real problem. Deveney explained that while Cleveland did some “great work” getting under the second apron by adding Watson, it is simply “unsustainable.” Someone has to go by next summer to free up cash, and all signs point straight to Jarrett Allen.
It’s a brutal decision, because Allen is an All-Star, an elite rim protector, and a fantastic rim runner. But with Evan Mobley already on the roster, the Cavs have a viable option at center. That $109 million Allen has made throughout his career? That’s the contract they’ll likely move, whether it’s through a trade or by simply waiving him. Losing an All-Star is never easy, but the team’s commitment to Harden and Watson has put them in this bind.
So yeah, getting Harden and Watson was huge for the Cavs, no doubt. But it means a tough, tough decision on Allen is looming. Cleveland needs to sort this money mess out. It’s going to be wild to see how they navigate freeing up that cash, and who else might feel the squeeze when that deadline hits next summer. This ain’t over!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply