A strong—so far perfect—start for the Cavaliers won’t completely quiet trade speculation in Northeast Ohio. Not when the previous playoff trips have made the non-shooting frontcourt tandem of Allen and Evan Mobley appear untenable. And certainly not after NBA insider Marc Stein reported Allen was “essentially obligated” to sign his three-year, $91 million deal in early August so that he’d become trade-eligible ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
The best landing spot: New Orleans Pelicans
Apologies for grabbing the low-hanging fruit here, but the playoff-hopeful Pelicans can’t possibly keep this center rotation together all season, right? Regardless if New Orleans entrusts journeyman Daniel Theis or rookie Yves Missi with the starting center spot, it will have an underwhelming, overmatched option at the 5.
Allen, on the other hand, is a former All-Star who controls the interior about as well as anyone you’ll find. He may not have many modern, perimeter enhancements in his arsenal, but he deftly handles the traditional duties of protecting the paint, cleaning the glass and finishing around (and often above) the rim.
Senegal
