The Los Angeles Lakers are back in the trade spotlight, and this time, the target is a name that could reshape their frontcourt: Jarrett Allen.
With the February 5 trade deadline fast approaching, the Lakers are exploring ways to bolster their interior without tearing apart their financial flexibility. And the timing?
Couldn’t be better. The Cleveland Cavaliers are already reworking their roster-most recently flipping Darius Garland for James Harden-and Allen suddenly looks like the next potential domino to fall.
Allen, for his part, is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Just a few days ago, he dropped a monster 40-point, 16-rebound performance that showcased everything Lakers head coach JJ Redick would want in a big man.
The mobility, the rim protection, the ability to switch and defend in space-it’s all there. And for a Lakers team that’s struggled to find consistency on the defensive end, particularly in the paint, Allen could be the kind of game-changer who elevates their postseason ceiling.
From a roster-building perspective, the Lakers are threading a very fine needle. They’re working with less than $1 million in space under the first tax apron, which means any deal has to be both strategic and financially surgical.
But they’ve got tools to work with. According to league sources, L.A. is leveraging a mix of expiring contracts-Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million)-along with future first-round picks (potentially in 2031 or 2032) and young talent like rookie wing Dalton Knecht.
That combination of salary ballast and long-term assets is exactly the kind of package that could get Cleveland’s attention. Allen’s value is high, especially with the way he’s producing this season, but if the Cavs are serious about reshaping their core, the Lakers are putting together a package that at least gets them to the table.
But Allen’s not the only name on L.A.’s radar.
Sources say the Lakers are also exploring a separate deal for forward De’Andre Hunter-another Cleveland piece who could bring size, switchability, and scoring punch to the wing. In that scenario, the Lakers are reportedly weighing a package centered around Hachimura and Knecht.
The holdup? Hunter’s contract.
He’s owed $24.9 million next season, and while he fits the Lakers’ needs from a basketball standpoint, the front office is being cautious about adding long-term money that could limit their flexibility down the line.
That’s been the consistent theme with this front office under Rob Pelinka: aggressive, but calculated. They’re not just looking to make a splash-they’re trying to build a contender that can evolve around LeBron James and Anthony Davis while keeping options open for the next phase, whenever that comes.
With just hours left before the deadline, the Lakers are clearly active. Whether it’s Allen, Hunter, or a surprise name that hasn’t surfaced yet, L.A. is pushing to upgrade. The question now is whether they can thread the financial needle-and whether Cleveland is ready to dance.