A new trade idea has Jarrett Allen headed from Cleveland to Charlotte, and the fit is easy to see on paper. Fadeaway World’s proposal would send the Cavaliers center to the Hornets in a deal built around Grant Williams, Moussa Diabate, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick (NOP/POR) going back to Cleveland.
Charlotte has already been busy this offseason, making two major moves before this hypothetical one even enters the picture. The first saw the Hornets send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks. Then came another swing, with Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick going to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and a 2033 first-round pick.
That’s why a third big trade would not be out of character for Charlotte. Allen makes sense as a target because he brings exactly the kind of interior game a team can build around. He’s an elite rim-runner and lob threat, the sort of center who can clean up possessions and give a guard room to breathe.
Last season in Cleveland, Allen averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 63.8% from the field and 70.9% from the free-throw line. He also piled up 20 double-doubles. In the 2026 playoffs, he added 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as the Cavaliers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before being swept by the New York Knicks.
Charlotte, meanwhile, missed the playoffs by one game last season. The team has a promising core with Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, but the roster still needs a veteran starter who has been through the postseason and understands what winning requires. Allen checks that box.
The one-time All-Star has spent his career with the Brooklyn Nets and Cavaliers, and his numbers back up the appeal. He owns regular-season averages of 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, along with playoff averages of 12.5 points and 8.7 rebounds.
In short, Allen would give Charlotte the kind of center who fits the job description cleanly. He does the things a rim-runner is supposed to do, and he does them well.
In Other News...
Miles Bridges Is Back In Another Disturbing Off Court Controversy
Miles Bridges is back in the news for the wrong reasons, with a custody exchange now turning into a legal dispute that has spilled into the public eye. Mychelle Johnson faces misdemeanor charges after allegedly throwing water at Bridges during the June 22 exchange, and Bridges filed the complaint afterward, saying he was worried about their childrens safety.
Johnson, meanwhile, says the charges are part of an effort to have her arrested and take custody of the children, adding another layer to a relationship already marked by serious off-court history. For the Hornets, it is another uncomfortable reminder of Bridges past as he waits on a pending move to Phoenix that still has not been finalized. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Peterson Just Revealed The Toughest Call Of Charlotte's Rebuild
Jeff Peterson framed Charlottes latest roster shake-up as the kind of move that only makes sense if the Hornets are thinking well beyond the next few months. The president of basketball operations said the organization had to weigh a painful decision against a bigger goal: building a team that can get into the playoffs, stay there and eventually grow into a true contender. He also pointed to the current roster as a reason for optimism, while asking fans to stay with the process as the front office keeps reshaping the group.
The trade also left the Hornets with more flexibility to keep maneuvering, along with extra draft capital to work with as the rebuild continues. Peterson did not lay out a timetable for what comes next, which only adds to the uncertainty around how quickly Charlotte will make its next move. For now, the message is clear enough: the front office believes the hard part is worth it if it puts the team on a more sustainable path. [Read more 🡒]