Jarrett Allen Set to Return Thursday for Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are finally getting their anchor back. According to Danny Cunningham, Jarrett Allen plans to suit up on Thursday after dealing with a lingering knee injury.

If you have been holding your breath waiting for Cleveland to protect the rim again, you can finally exhale. A knee-to-knee collision had Allen sidelined, leaving a massive void in the paint that opposing offenses were more than happy to exploit.

"Jarrett Allen (knee) plans to play Thursday, per @realDCunningham."

Before his knee decided to take an unscheduled vacation, Allen was quietly putting together a highly efficient campaign. He is shooting nearly 64 percent from the floor while pulling down 8.5 rebounds and dropping 15.4 points a night. Those are the kind of numbers that make fantasy managers weep when they vanish from the lineup.

Trying to run a modern NBA defense without your starting center is like trying to parallel park a school bus with no mirrors. You might survive, but it is going to be ugly and someone is probably getting their bumper taken off. Getting Allen back instantly changes the math for Cleveland.

His return is also going to send a ripple through the betting markets. When a guy who alters shots at the rim steps back onto the floor, game totals and opponent player props have to adjust immediately.

Allen will get his first test back on Thursday night when the Cavaliers travel to face the Philadelphia 76ers. Assuming the knee holds up, he will get a quick turnaround against his old squad, the Brooklyn Nets, on Saturday.