LeBron James returning to Cleveland has become one of the biggest stories of the offseason, but a potential sign-and-trade involving Jarrett Allen may be the only logical way to make that happen.
There is legitimate belief around the league that the Lakers will strongly consider a deal centered around Allen.
“There’s a thought process out there in Los Angeles — and I think if the Cavs were interested in this, the Lakers would be on guard right now — that they’re going to sign and trade LeBron for Jarrett Allen,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during an appearance on ESPN Cleveland. “And I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they would have LeBron.
“Obviously, LeBron is going to want to sign with the Cavs. But your way to pay LeBron is to trade for Jarrett Allen. The Lakers are going to kill Jarrett Allen. Kill him! They’re going to make that deal in 17 seconds.”
From the Lakers’ perspective, Allen checks many of the boxes the organization has been looking for this offseason. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently reported that Luka Doncic has been heavily involved with the front office.
Allen may not fit the modern stretch mold, but his production is still significant. He averaged 3.4 points per game as a roll man this season, which ranks eighth in the NBA. He is also one of the league’s better screen setters, rebounders and interior defenders.
For Cleveland, however, the financial side becomes more complicated. A signal and trade will severely shut down the Cavaliers in the first round, creating significant program limitations. The team may have to shell out more salary to stay in compliance, while retaining free agents may be difficult.
For the Lakers, the situation is much cleaner. Whether working over the cap or using cap space, acquiring Allen would address arguably the biggest weakness on the roster while adding a 28-year-old former All-Star entering his prime.
While trading LeBron James will undoubtedly mean losing a better player, the Lakers could get exactly what they’ve been looking for: a reliable starting center to pair with Doncic for the future.
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