3 best Jarrett Allen trade destinations if Cavs finally look to move on after ECF sweep

The Cleveland Cavaliers had themselves a 2026 NBA Playoffs for the books, outlasting the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons in consecutive seven-game series only to be swept by the New York Knicks on the doorstep of the NBA Finals. This season seemed different for the Cavs and their clear pursuit of an NBA championship became apparent through the James Harden trade, going all-in on maximizing the prime of Donovan Mitchell.

However, their collapse in the Eastern Conference Finals immediately clouds the futures of Harden, Mitchell, Mobley moving forward. Head coach Kenny Atkinson was also in the hot seat before Cleveland decided to retain him for the upcoming season, giving the third-year Cavs’ coach and last seasons ‘NBA Coach of the Year’ another chance to get to the NBA Finals.

Still, we can expect significant changes in Cleveland in the upcoming season both through the NBA Draft and through the trade market. Center Jarrett Allen has been a strong option in the trade market over recent years and his recent showing in the NBA Playoffs, particularly against the Detroit Pistons, proved that Allen could be a valuable asset for a number of franchises.

Breaking down a potentail Jarrett Allen trade scenario, we’ll take a look at three teams that could be in the running to land the former NBA All-Star.

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are another team looking to rebuild through the upcoming draft with the fourth overall pick, but don’t be surprised if the Bulls are also buyers in the trade and free agent markets. Bryson Graham will see his first year as Executive VP of basketball operations and has been known to be an aggressive negotiator, likely eager to get active in rebuilding the team and bringing a new identity to their roster.

Jarrett Allen could serve as a veteran presence for players like Jalen Smith and Zach Collins at the center spot while also mentoring and providing support for budding star Matas Buzelis. The Bulls should be expected to select a big man in the upcoming draft, but adding a player like Allen with a relatively inexpensive contract could do wonders in developing their next crop of talent. He’s done a great deal for Evan Mobley’s evolution and would add a level of consistency to the Bulls’ starting five.

Detroit Pistons

This would be an ultimate villain move for Jarrett Allen to join the Detroit Pistons after having a huge part in sending them home during these playoffs, but it makes sense when thinking about both teams’ current championship windows. If James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, or Evan Mobley were to leave, the Cavs would certainly think about rebuilding and updating their roster over the next couple of years.

However, the Pistons are clearly in a win-now scenario and coming off the best record in the Eastern Conference, they’ll certainly be contending atop the standings for the coming years. Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart were great options for the Pistons during the regular season, but clearly came up short in terms of their playoff appearances.

The Pistons would have to give up a player like Paul Reed or Daniss Jenkins along with picks to land Allen, but it could be a smart move from a defensive perspective pairing Jarrett Allen with Jalen Duren in the post. Isaiah Stewart would only add to the defensive muscle as the Pistons could become an unstoppable team in the paint by adding Allen.

Los Angeles Lakers

Recent trade buzz surrounding Lakers’ LeBron James could be the smoke around a fire that brings James back home to Cleveland before finally calling it quits from the NBA. Adding James would certainly make the Cavs a favorite in the Eastern Conference during his tenure, a further indicator as to how aggressive the Cavs will be willing to make a move this offseason.

If James were open to re-joining his home team, the Cavs would have to clear space in order to offer him more than a minimum contract. Per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, “The most plausible scenario for pursuing LeBron, assuming he would want to go back to Cleveland, is a sign-and-trade with the Los Angeles Lakers…A sign-and-trade for LeBron would undoubtedly involve Jarrett Allen ($28 million), whom the Lakers have targeted previously in trade rumors.”

The Lakers targeting Jarrett Allen would make complete sense as they try to add to the pick-and-roll game around Luka Doncic. Allen, a tireless rebounder, would add greatly to the stability of the Lakers’ front court with a steady presence while Cleveland fans would get to see their favorite son return home. While the reality is still far-fetched, it’s certainly a landing spot that would make several parties happy if they can come to a deal.

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