After flaming out in the second round again, the Cleveland Cavaliers are headed for a loud offseason. A 64-win regular season bore no fruit and now with the Cavs being one of three second-apron teams in the league, they are very restricted when it comes to upgrading their roster.
That doesn’t mean Cleveland can’t make changes and while early indications are that they won’t, there is one move that should be under consideration, Allen has been one of the staples of Cleveland’s rebuild and resurgence.
For the Cavs to take the next step, they must move Jarrett Allen
Moving on from Allen would allow for Evan Mobley’s growth to continue to ascend and bring back some depth that the team needs. Allen would have a market if he were made available and if Cleveland receives a strong offer, they could be enticed enough to move him. Here are the three best landing spots for Jarrett Allen this offseason.
3. Sacramento Kings
The Kings missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and with new management, they might look to shake things up with their roster.Sacramento was one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA last year.
They were 22nd in defensive rating, and they were one of the worst rim-protecting teams in the league, allowing a 68 percent conversion rate in the restricted area and 49 percent on non-restricted area shots. Both percentages put them in the bottom ten of the league.
Allen has been one of the NBA's best rim protectors since his arrival in Cleveland, and the Cavs have been inside the top ten in defensive rating in every year of his tenure. He is also agile for a big man and is better suited to be a defensive anchor than Domantas Sabonis is. The Kings need an elite defensive big to pair next to their offensive engine, and Allen fits that bill.
2. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors turned their season around after trading for Jimmy Butler, and it resulted in a thrilling first-round win against the Rockets, but ended sourly in five games in the second round against the Timberwolves. Yes, Golden State was missing Steph Curry for that entire series, but their lack of size was also exposed.
In both series, the Warriors were outmatched in the paint, especially defensively. In the playoffs, they were 15th in total rebounds per game, 13th in defensive rebounding percentage, and allowed the sixth most offensive rebounds and third most total rebounds in the postseason.
Allen fixes that issue, as he has averaged ten rebounds per game during his Cavs tenure and had the second most double-doubles of his career this past season (40).
Allen’s ability to grab rebounds and protect the rim is something that Golden State has been missing. Pairing him with Draymond Green gives the Warriors another strong option defensively in the paint and helps alleviate their issues.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
If you are a center in the NBA, Laker fans have already tried ways to acquire you in the trade machine. With that being said, after trading Anthony Davis away for Luka Doncic, it left a gaping hole in LA’s frontcourt. Their lack of size was so bad that JJ Redick went centerless against the Timberwolves, and it cost the Lakers.
Allen is the perfect fit for LA. He serves as a great pick-and-roll partner and lob threat for Dončić. He rim runs and can play in transition. On a team with LeBron James and Dončić, Allen would feast off easy lobs off pick and rolls and on the break. Ask Darius Garland, who has more assists off Allen than any player he’s played with, how fun it is to play with a big like him.
He can also protect the rim at an elite level and is a strong rebounder. He can serve as a defensive anchor, maybe not the same way Davis was, but still much better than what the Lakers had.
The problem is the Lakers won’t have any assets to entice the Cavs. Good luck getting Cleveland to accept a package consisting of Dalton Knecht and a first-round pick. So while the fit is perfect, the offer may not be. Nonetheless, if the Lakers can acquire Allen this offseason, he fixes their frontcourt issues.