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 realistic way to make it happen.
There is legitimate belief around the league that the Lakers would strongly consider a deal centered around Allen.
“There is a thought process out there in Los Angeles — and I think if the Cavs were interested in this, the Lakers would sit up at attention right now — that they would 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 could have LeBron.
“Obviously, LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs. But your pathway to pay LeBron the money is to trade Jarrett Allen for him. The Lakers would kill for Jarrett Allen. Kill for him! They would do that deal in 17 tenths of a second.”
From the Lakers’ perspective, Allen checks many of the boxes the organization has been searching 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-big mold, but his production remains valuable. He averaged 3.4 points per game as a roll man this season, ranking tied for 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 far more complicated. A sign-and-trade would hard-cap the Cavaliers at the first apron, creating significant roster restrictions. The team may need to move additional salaries to remain compliant, while retaining key free agents could also become difficult.
For the Lakers, the situation is much cleaner. Whether operating above the cap or using cap space, acquiring Allen would address arguably the biggest weakness on the roster while adding a twenty-eight-year-old former All-Star entering his prime.
While trading LeBron James would unquestionably mean losing the better player, the Lakers could receive exactly what they have been searching for: a dependable starting center to pair with Doncic for the future.
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