The Cleveland Cavaliers have spent years sticking with their Jarrett Allen-Evan Mobley frontcourt, but the fit may not be as locked in as it once looked.
Allen and Mobley still haven’t reached the NBA Finals together, even after five seasons side by side. And while the Cavaliers want more spacing on offense, that gets tricky when both bigs are on the floor at the same time.
Moving Allen for a stretch-four and wing help would make sense, and it might be safer than it sounds. Cleveland already has two centers behind them in Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Thomas Bryant, and either one could handle a larger role.
The Cavs have said they want to keep their “core four” together, though that idea may look different now that Peyton Watson is in the mix, creating something closer to a core five. If Cleveland makes a major move, Allen is the most obvious name to watch. Three trade paths stand out.
One option sends Allen to Atlanta for Onyeka Okongwu and Corey Kispert. The Hawks have had interest in Allen before, and Okongwu has made clear progress as a floor-spacer after shooting 37.6% from 3 last season.
Kispert would bring another layer of shooting and could help replace some of what Max Strus took with him to the Los Angeles Clippers. In Cleveland, both players would add more room for an offense built around Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden.
Another deal would move Allen to Dallas for P.J. Washington and a 2033 first-round pick.
The Mavericks have been dealing with injury issues in the middle, with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II both described as injury-prone. Allen would help stabilize that spot.
For the Cavaliers, Washington would bring stretch-four experience and Finals experience, though they’d want the version of his shot-making from 2024-25, when he hit 38.1% from deep, more than last season’s 32.5.
The third idea has Allen going to Chicago for Jalen Smith, Isaac Okoro, and a 2033 first-round pick. That would give the Bulls an All-Star-caliber frontcourt partner for Caleb Wilson, while moving Nic Claxton to the bench.
Cleveland would be betting on Smith as a spacing big, and there’s some reason to do it: he shot 37.3% from 3 last season on 4.2 attempts per game. He’s been inconsistent elsewhere, but he’s still just 25.
Okoro would also give the Cavs a familiar wing option, adding dependable depth behind Watson, Jaylon Tyson, and Sam Merrill.
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