Jarrett Allen, Cavs Agree to 3-Year, $91M Contract Extension; Updated Salary Cap

The Cleveland Cavaliers decided to keep one of the best backline defenders in the NBA in their frontcourt for the foreseeable future.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavs signed center Jarrett Allen to a new three-year, $91 million contract extension on Wednesday.

Allen had two years remaining on the five-year, $100 million deal he signed with the team in 2021, and he was set to make $20 million in 2024-25. Wednesday's deal now means he'll be guaranteed $131 million over the next five years, per Wojnarowski.

The Cavaliers had a $191.3 million salary cap entering the 2024-25 season before Allen's extension, per Spotrac.

Allen had been one of the most coveted players on the trade market this season, but Cleveland didn't move him. NBA insider Marc Stein reported on May 19 that "numerous" rival teams remained interested in acquiring him "despite the whispers of frustration circulating in Cleveland surrounding Allen's apparent reluctance to take a pain-killing injection to address a rib injury that sidelined him for the Cavaliers' final eight playoff games."

In the end, Cleveland decided he was too valuable to deal away in a trade.

An All-Star in 2022, Allen had a slow start to the 2023-24 season before eventually finding his footing. Through 77 games, he averaged a career-high 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He shot 63.4 percent from the field and maintained his status as a reliable rim protector.

Unfortunately, Allen suffered a rib injury in the playoffs that forced him to miss the entire Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Cavs lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. He had a strong start to the postseason with averages of 17.0 points and 13.8 rebounds in four first-round games against the Orlando Magic.

Allen helped the Cavs finish seventh in the NBA in scoring defense this season, holding opponents to 110.2 points per game. He will continue to be the anchor on a team that has the pieces to be a top contender in the East.

Retaining Allen is a step in the right direction for Cleveland as it gears up for another run to the playoffs next season.