Cavs’ Koby Altman: No Divide Between Organization, Jarrett Allen

Altman was responding to rumors that Allen refused an injection to overcome a rib injury and return to the lineup in the playoffs. While Altman didn’t get into details, he did suggest that “Allen’s injury was listed was semantics and that there’s no fracture or divide in the organization’s relationship with the big man,” per Evan Dammerall of Right Down Euclid.

Allen is coming off a career year in which he set the franchise record for consecutive double-doubles — yet has been the subject of multiple trade rumors since the end of the season.

The Cavaliers are not looking to trade him, sources told Hoops Wire.

Allen has two years and $40 million left on his contract. He averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks this season while shooting 63.4% from the field and 74.2% from the free-throw line.  

The Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of this year’s postseason in five games after beating the Orlando Magic in the first round in seven games.

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, some members of the Cavaliers were frustrated Allen refused an injection to try and numb the pain in his rib and play.

“Allen played in 81 consecutive games counting the regular season and postseason,” Charania, Vardon and Lloyd wrote. “He was initially hit in the ribs in Game 1 against Orlando, and in Game 4 of that series, an elbow by Franz Wagner ‘pierced’ a rib on Allen’s right side, according to multiple team sources. The team listed him as ‘questionable’ to play in every game after that, which means there is a chance, though he was never close to getting back into uniform.

“Few if any, members of the organization doubted the discomfort Allen has been in since the injury, but the frustration among some members of the team was that he refused an injection to try and numb the pain and play.”

Altman addressed a number of topics, all of which you can find on our Cavs page.

Ashish Mathur contributed to this report.