Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
To answer a popular question in our Substack Chat room: Sources say that the Hawks have indeed made their interest in Jarrett Allen known to Cleveland for some time, but I'm told that Cleveland still has not entertained moving its starting center.
"[Donovan] Mitchell, [James] Harden, [Evan] Mobley, [Jarrett] Allen. Dan and Grant -- which is the Gilberts. Plus Koby [Altman], he was there when LeBron won there," Paul said. "Big, big, big X factor, let me talk to you about Brandon Weems," who is the Cavs' assistant GM under the president of basketball operations, Altman, and was a childhood friend and James' high school teammate. "Brandon Weems is basically LeBron's brother," Paul said. "Now, he worked his own way [up], nobody gave him anything. He's earned to be in the front office of the Cavs. "But that is a big feather in the cap [for Cleveland], because of Brandon Weems." Paul added that the Cavs would have been even more appealing had the roster still featured fellow Klutch client Darius Garland, who was traded to the LA Clippers for Harden last season. "This is no offense to Harden," Paul said. "Because he loves Garland like he loves Maxey."
Another wrench was thrown into this story June 24, when ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst made a bombshell claim during a segment on an ESPN Cleveland radio show. “The thought process in Los Angeles — and I think if the Cavs were interested in this, the Lakers would sit up in attention right now — that they would sign and trade LeBron for Jarrett Allen,” Windhorst said, per an X post from ESPN Cleveland. “And I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they could have LeBron. Obviously, LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs. But if your pathway to paying LeBron the money is to trade Jarrett Allen for him, the Lakers would KILL for Jarrett Allen. KILL for him, all right? They would do that deal in 17-tenths of a second.”
Advertisement
Chris Fedor: There are questions about can Evan Mobley make that transition from power forward full-time to full-time center, handle the physicality, handle the intensity, handle the rigors that come with that? I don't know. It's just a harder question, I think, than people try to make it seem like because of the impact of Jarrett Allen, because of his effectiveness compared to Evan. And it's like, if you're talking about just this upcoming season as opposed to the next three to five years, me personally, probably pick Jarrett. I think there are people inside this organization that probably would pick Jarrett. But you, unfortunately, you can't only look at that. You have to balance like all these different things that we brought up. I don't think it's snap your fingers and say that if you break up Jarrett and Evan, you definitely become a better basketball team.
Among the advice Dan Gilbert offered Kenny Atkinson, the coach said, was that Jarrett Allen would be a key to Game 7. “He said, ‘You know who the key to this whole thing is,’” Atkinson said. “I’m thinking (James) Harden, (Donovan) Mitchell. He said, ‘The key to this whole thing, the spark for this is Jarrett Allen.’ I said, ‘Really?’ And that sparked me to run the first play for him. … I went to my room like, man, I’ve got to run the first play for him.
Danny Cunningham: Donovan Mitchell: “There’s Black History Month JA and Game 7 JA”
Advertisement
Ian Begley: “It’s going to be a loud environment; we know that their fans are incredible fans, crazy fans. But we know that we can do it. We came into an incredible arena like this (DET in G7) & took over the game. We just have to do it again” - Jarret Allen to @CassidyHubbarth on CLE @ NYK for Game 1 of ECF on Tuesday. Knicks have home-court advantage. ECF games will be played every other day. Long Island’s Kenny Atkinson, Westchester native/Mets fan Donovan Mitchell and Cavs have won 3 of 4. Knicks have won 7 straight. Two of the Knick connections in series: ex Knick associate head coach Johnny Bryant is Cavs’ associate HC. Atkinson was a driving force behind Jeremy Lin’s rise in NY.
Danny Cunningham: #Cavs dominate the Detroit Pistons 125-94 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Donovan Mitchell was excellent, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley were too, and Sam Merrill was outstanding off the bench. As dominant of a performance as they've had this year.
