Donovan Mitchell strongly supports Cavs’ Jarrett Allen as possible All-Star alternate

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell was selected among the Eastern Conference reserves for the All-Star Game. Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen was not.

But Allen may still have a shot. 

That’s because Knicks power forward Julius Randle, also selected as an East reserve, is out with a shoulder injury. He’s not expected to be back in time for the All-Star Game on Feb. 18 in Indianapolis.

That could open the door for Allen as an alternate. Given the way Allen had played during the Cavs’ recent stretch, he will undoubtedly warrant consideration, from NBA commissioner Adam Silver (the commissioner and the commissioner alone picks alternate All-Stars).

Anyway, Mitchell said that if the East needs an injury replacement, then that replacement needs to be Allen.

“I think he will be Indiana with me and I think he is worthy of an All-Star spot,” Mitchell said, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.”He should have gotten it. He will get there and get his second nod I believe. If not, I’m throwing a fit on Twitter.”

The app is actually called “X” now, but Mitchell is right about one thing — Allen belongs in the event Randle (or starter Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers) cannot go.

Yes, you could also make a case for snubbed Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, but the commissioner would pick a frontcourt player to fill in for a center or power forward. And again, it’s hard to envision anyone having a better run lately than Allen.

For the season, Allen is averaging 15.2 points and 10.5 rebounds, shooting 65 percent from the field. He also just set the franchise record for consecutive double-doubles with 16. That streak ended when Allen left the Cavs’ road win over the Grizzlies with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

He still recorded 14 points and nine rebounds in the first half. (We will have more on the ankle injury as the news becomes available.)

So without a doubt, Allen deserves another shot at the All-Star Game if the opportunity presents itself. He’s played in the game once, as an alternate, in 2021-22, alongside Cavs guard Darius Garland.