Cavs Dribbles: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Craig Porter Jr, Preseason Finale

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — A few random dribbles on the Cavaliers as they enter their final preseason game, Friday at Indiana.

1. Things are starting to look up when it comes to center Jarrett Allen. As I tweeted with a picture (below), Allen was working out in post-practice big man drills with fellow centers Tristan Thompson and Damian Jones on Thursday.

2. The drills were mostly baby hooks around the basket. Allen wasn’t doing anything too demanding, just walking to his spot, catching a pass, and putting up a soft shot. He was able to perform all this while wearing a tucked-in, long-sleeved t-shirt. 

3. Allen also took part in an individual workout, as relayed by Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. So there are indeed signs that he could be ready for the season opener on Wednesday at Brooklyn.

4. All of this appears to be the most Allen has done since suffering a left ankle injury early in camp. “He’s ramping himself up and doing more and more every day,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.

5. Without Allen, we are likely to see Damian Jones as the starting center for the preseason finale and perhaps into the regular season. We could also see Evan Mobley move over to the center spot. Bickerstaff didn’t say any of that — I’m just making a guess.

6. Mobley suggested he’s fine with whatever. ‘(Allen) has been out before. We’ve got some other guys who can step in his place,” Mobley said. “I’m gonna have to step up as well, everyone does, especially on defense. I feel like everyone’s ready.”

7. Unlike the NFL, where all the starters sit in the preseason finale, Bickerstaff said he intends to play the Cavs’ regulars for the first three quarters vs. the Pacers.

8. Bickerstaff on what he hopes to see: “We’re looking for the guys to play Cavaliers basketball. We’re also looking for guys to get reps together. There are new pieces that are significant to what we’re trying to do. So those pieces need to get reps against an opponent who has a defensive system or schemes that are different than ours. Game-like is what really matters and it’s hard to emulate those in practice.”

9. Back to Allen. If he isn’t able to go in the opener, just remember … well, we’re going to be doing this until at least April, perhaps May, and maybe into June. So the Cavs aren’t rushing him back.

10. Cavs two-way rookie guard Craig Porter Jr. played high school ball at Terre Haute (Ind.) South. So he may have his own cheering section vs. the Pacers. Porter has been impressive and quite frankly, the Cleveland Charge should have an exciting team this season. He’s an obvious reason why.

11. Another Indiana connection? Darius Garland is a native of Gary.

12. Finally, the Caris LeVert trade with the Pacers from February 2022 is now complete. That’s because Indiana used the No. 26 pick, acquired from Cleveland as part of that deal, in this past summer’s draft. That pick was used to select Pacers rookie guard Ben Sheppard.

Cavs center Jarrett Allen taking part in post-practice drills with fellow centers Tristan Thompson and Damian Jones. More hoops https://t.co/07DB6szupr. pic.twitter.com/lLeE33iMQ0

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) October 19, 2023