Massive four-team trade idea gives Lakers a young All-Star center
Massive four-team trade idea gives Lakers a young All-Star center
There are people who want the Los Angeles Lakers to not only acquire a legitimate starting center this offseason, but to acquire one who is a star and not just a defensive specialist or rim-runner.
There are those who predict a lot of player movement in terms of trades this summer. Superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant could get moved, as could a number of other impact players.
One such impact player who has come up in trade rumors is Jarrett Allen, the Cleveland Cavaliers' starting center. The Cavaliers finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record and were expected to reach at least the Eastern Conference finals, but they instead got smacked in the second round in five games by the Indiana Pacers. Some feel the Cavs could make big changes this offseason.
At the same time, there are some people who think the Dallas Mavericks could trade the No. 1 pick in this month's NBA draft instead of using it on Duke University sensation Cooper Flagg. ESPN proposed a massive four-team trade that would move that No. 1 pick, as well as Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, while giving the Lakers the potent center they badly need.
In this trade idea, L.A. would give up rookie sharpshooter Dalton Knecht and big man Maxi Kleber, a 2031 first-round draft pick and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 for Allen, who was an All-Star just three years ago.
Via ESPN:
"To quote Batman and George Costanza, 'You want to get nuts? Come on, let's get nuts,'" wrote Kevin Pelton.
"... The Lakers get their long-desired rim-running center in Allen, undoubtedly the best big man available to them in terms of current value. Getting Allen costs them not only the pick, swap and Knecht (what they tried to send the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams), but also a second swap. If the Lakers can build around Allen and Doncic like they hope, that swap shouldn't convey anyway."
Allen averaged 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 28.0 minutes a game this season, and he also led the NBA in field-goal accuracy by shooting 70.6%. He is a strong finisher at the rim and had 159 dunks this season, and he could greatly help L.A.'s woes not just on the defensive end but also on the boards.
During the regular season, the team ranked just 21st in both total rebounding and defensive rebounding percentage and 23rd in offensive rebounding percentage. In the first round of the playoffs, when it lost in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it got outrebounded by a margin of 4.8 per game, and in the final game of the series, it obtained 17 fewer rebounds than the Timberwolves did.
Since Allen just turned 27 years of age, Allen could be a long-term solution for the Lakers. Better yet, this trade idea leaves them with the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent, both of which could be used to upgrade the squad's guard and wing depth.
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