How did the Houston Rockets not take back Jarrett Allen in the James Harden deal?

As quickly as Kenny Atkinson parted methods with the Brooklyn Nets on March 7 of final yr, Jarrett Allen misplaced his beginning spot to DeAndre Jordan. The transfer solely lasted for 2 video games as a result of days later, we have been amid a country-wide shutdown. Nevertheless it additionally crystalized Allen’s standing with Brooklyn, which carried over into this season.

Allen is headed for restricted free company this summer time, and a contract extension wouldn’t have made sense in Brooklyn given their long-term dedication to fellow heart Jordan. On account of his soon-to-be expiring contract, Allen was primed to be on the heart (no pun meant, actually) of a commerce for an incoming third star to hitch Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Clearly, the Nets deal landed James Harden, however the Houston Rockets determined not to take Allen again for some inexplicable purpose. Positive, the Nets most likely would’ve been higher with Allen than Jordan, however now they’ve Harden, so who cares?

In keeping with Allen’s basketball-reference page, the official four-team commerce has Allen going straight to Cleveland, who moved a future second-round decide to Brooklyn, in addition to a 2022 first-rounder and Dante Exum to the Houston Rockets. Maybe it’s as a result of Tilman Fertitta is anticipated to be hesitant in paying anybody long-term, however the Rockets aren’t even likely to keep 2021 free-agent-to-be Victor Oladipo. So However why didn’t the Rockets simply take again Allen as a substitute of a future first?

There was a time the place Oladipo may’ve gotten a max contract or one thing extraordinarily shut, however given his manufacturing this season — particularly with the Rockets — such a wholesome deal could be unlikely, if not misguided. Allen isn’t somebody who ought to command a max contract both, however judging by the offers we’ve seen other centers obtain in recent times, a hefty extension of some sort is probably going within the playing cards. Cleveland can’t afford to not hold guys anyway except one other legendary Ohio native returns to avoid wasting their franchise (which is definitely bettering).

However even post-Harden, the Rockets didn’t must strip all the pieces down in an try to rebuild fully. Hell, with John Wall’s contract, you most likely couldn’t. With Oladipo, the DeMarcus Cousins release, and the addition of Christian Wood, you weren’t actually dedicated to a full-fledged rebuild anyway. The 22-year-old Allen not solely would’ve been cash higher spent this summer time, however he would’ve been a perfect complement to Wall and Wooden past this season, in addition to the gathering plus Oladipo this season.

Allen’s averaging 14.8 factors, 9.3 rebounds, and a pair of.0 blocks with the Cavaliers. He’s additionally made 67 p.c of his area targets and has made 3-of-6 from three, teasing a long-range shot he occasionally utilized in Brooklyn but tried to develop nonetheless. He has an absurd offensive ranking of 137 and is a seamless supporting piece subsequent to Sexland — Cleveland’s younger backcourt of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. Allen’s the best rim-running, defensive-minded, offensively-efficient heart for immediately’s recreation, and subsequent to a face-up stretch-four like Wooden, the Rockets may’ve secured a frontcourt for years to return.

The irony is that Allen confirmed the Rockets up shut simply final night time, going off for 26 factors, 18 rebounds, and 4 blocks on 10-of-11 capturing.