LeBron Sign-and-Trade for Jarrett Allen Between Lakers-Cavs Addressed by Windhorst
The Los Angeles Lakers would “kill” to get Cleveland Cavaliers middle Jarrett Allen in a hypothetical sign-and-trade for LeBron James, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst throughout an interview on ESPN 850 Cleveland.
“There is a thought process out there in Los Angeles, and I think if the Cavs were interested, then the Lakers would sit up in attention right now, that they would sign-and-trade LeBron for Jared Allen.
“And I feel if the Cavs had been prepared to do this, they might have LeBron. Obviously, LeBron must wish to signal with the Cavs, but when your pathway to pay LeBron the cash is to commerce Jared Allen for him, the Lakers would kill for Jared Allen. Kill for him, all proper? They would try this deal in 17 tenths of the second.”
Windhorst strongly emphasised the phrase “kill” twice, so it’s clear, based on his reporting, that the Lakers would love to have Allen on their team if possible.
The 28-year-old Allen has played nine NBA seasons for the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers. He just averaged 15.4 points on 63.8 percent shooting and 8.5 rebounds per game. Allen would solve the Lakers’ current question mark at center, as incumbent starter Deandre Ayton can decline his player option to become a free agent.
Allen is underneath contract for three extra seasons at a mean of $30.2 million per 12 months. Given his manufacturing, his age and previous success, touchdown him could be an awesome deal for the Lakers as they appear to construct their future round Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, who simply agreed to a four-year max extension to remain on the town.
James’ NBA future is uncertain, but what is certain is that he can still play after 23 seasons in the league. The 41-year-old just dropped 20.9 points on 51.5 percent shooting, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. He also led the Lakers near the tail end of their season when Dončić and Reaves were out with injuries and guided LA to a five-game series win over the Houston Rockets in the first round.
Heading back to Cleveland would mark a return to his home state of Ohio and a return to where he spent 11 NBA seasons, highlighted by leading the Cavs to the 2016 NBA title.
The hypothetical James-Allen sign-and-trade is an interesting scenario, to say the least, but as Windhorst noted, James would of course need to be up for signing with the Cavs for it to happen.
As of now, we do not totally know what James’ 2026-27 season will maintain, however the reply ought to reveal itself pretty quickly as free company negotiations can start on June 30 (pending free brokers can even comply with re-sign with their 2025-26 group earlier than then, although).
