Breaking Down Cavaliers’ 2023-24 Season-Opening Centers

2022 All-Star Jarrett Allen leads Cleveland's group of three centers to begin the 2023-24 regular season.

This past Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers made their preseason roster cuts heading into the 2023-24 regular season.

In our last Cavaliers roster breakdown, we examined the team’s power forwards to open the regular season.

With Cleveland playing its first regular-season game tonight, here is a breakdown of the centers on the team's season-opening roster.

Jarrett Allen

Named an NBA All-Star in 2022, Jarrett Allen enters his third full campaign as the Cavaliers’ starting center.

In three seasons with Cleveland, he has averaged a double-double (14.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG), along with 1.3 blocks per game. Last season, Allen shot 64.4% from the field, which ranked fifth in the NBA.

Dec 29, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse / © Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The 25-year-old has been ruled OUT for tonight’s season-opener against the Brooklyn Nets due to a bone bruise in his left ankle, and the Cavaliers hope to get him back on the court soon.

Damian Jones

Cleveland acquired Damian Jones in an offseason trade with the Utah Jazz. Originally a first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the 28-year-old is entering his eighth NBA season on his seventh team.

Primarily off the bench, Jones has averaged 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for his career, while shooting 66.2% from the field.

Tristan Thompson

The Cavaliers brought back their former starting center with a one-year deal in free agency.

Originally the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by Cleveland, Tristan Thompson won an NBA Championship with the Cavaliers in 2016. The 32-year-old brings a veteran presence and leadership to a young Cleveland roster.

Last year, while he did not play in the regular season, Thompson signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for their postseason run to the Western Conference Finals.

The Cavaliers look to begin their 2023-24 regular season on a high note in tonight’s season-opener.