The Los Angeles Lakers need a center alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic and one NBA insider is proposing that the franchise trade for Cleveland Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen.
The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year’s playoffs in five games. Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick played without a traditional big man in the second half of Game 4 and all of Game 5.
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During his end-of-the-season press conference with local reporters, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said he will attempt to acquire a center this offseason.
With that said, Kevin Pelton of ESPN proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers, Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls:
Dallas Mavericks get: Guard Donovan Mitchell, 2031 first-round pick (via Lakers), 2028 first-round swap (via Lakers), 2030 first-round swap (via Lakers)
Cleveland Cavaliers get: 2025 No. 1 pick, guards Jevon Carter and Gabe Vincent, forwards Maxi Kleber and P.J. Washington, center Daniel Gafford
Los Angeles Lakers get: Center Jarrett Allen
Chicago Bulls get: Forwards Dalton Knecht and Caleb Martin, 2026 second-round pick (via Cavaliers), 2027 second-round pick (via Nuggets), 2028 second-round pick (via Cavaliers)
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen goes up for a dunk.
Allen appeared in all 82 games for the Cavaliers this season. He averaged 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting 70.6% from the field and 71.8% from the free-throw line.
A one-time All-Star, Allen will make $20 million next season.
“The Lakers get their long-desired rim-running center in Allen, undoubtedly the best big man available to them in terms of current value,” Pelton wrote.
“Getting Allen costs them not only the pick, swap and Knecht, but also a second swap. If the Lakers can build around Allen and Doncic like they hope, that swap shouldn’t convey anyway.”
Allen, 27, has played for the Brooklyn Nets and Cavaliers. He has career averages of 12.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.2 blocks.
