LeBron James’ return to Cleveland has become one of the biggest stories of the offseason, but a potential sign-and-trade involving Jarrett Allen might be the only realistic way to make it happen.
The consensus around the league is that the Lakers would strongly consider an Allen-centered trade.
“There’s a thought process in L.A., and I think the Lakers would stand up right now if the Cavaliers were interested and they would sign LeBron and then trade for Jarrett Allen,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on ESPN Cleveland. “I think if the Cavaliers were willing to do that, they could have LeBron.
“Obviously, LeBron has to want to sign with the Cavaliers. But the way you’re going to pay LeBron is to trade Jarrett Allen for him. The Lakers would kill for Jarrett Allen. Kill for him! They’d do the deal in seventeen-tenths of a second.”
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 actively involved in the front office.
Allen may not fit into the modern stretch mold, but his work is still valuable. He averaged 3.4 points per game as a substitute this season, ranking tied for eighth in the NBA. He’s also one of the best screeners, rebounders and interior defenders in the league.
However, the financial side becomes more complicated for Cleveland. A sign-and-trade would leave the Cavaliers severely limited on the first court, creating serious roster constraints. Teams may need to adjust additional salary to stay in compliance, while retaining key free agents may also become difficult.
For the Lakers, the situation is much cleaner. Whether operating above the salary cap or taking advantage of cap space, acquiring Allen would address the biggest weakness on the roster while adding a 28-year-old former All-Star entering his prime.
While trading LeBron James would undoubtedly mean losing a better player, the Lakers could get what they’ve been looking for: a reliable starting center to pair with Doncic going forward.
READ MORE: New Warriors’ Axel Lundenburg Says He ‘Used to Hate Steph Curry’
