NBA Trade Rumors: Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen Interests 'Numerous' Rival Teams

There are “numerous” rival teams interested in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen this offseason, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

This interest has persisted “despite the whispers of frustration circulating in Cleveland surrounding Allen’s apparent reluctance to take a pain-killing injection to address a rib injury that sidelined him for the Cavaliers’ final eight playoff games,” Stein reported.

The Cavaliers could consider trading Allen if they are able to extend both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley this offseason, per Stein.

Allen averaged 17.0 points per game in four postseason appearances before he suffered the injury in Game 4 of the first round. The shorthanded Cavaliers were eliminated from the second round by the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

Throughout the regular season, however, Allen remained a key part of the Cavaliers’ defense as he averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 assists and 1.1 blocks through 77 regular-season starts.

That will be enough to make him “one of the most coveted trade targets in the league this offseason,” Stein wrote.

Allen has two more years at a $20 million cap hit remaining on his contract before he is set to become an unrestricted free agent prior to his age-28 season in 2026-27.

Meanwhile, Mobley and Mitchell only have one year of club control remaining on each of their current contracts.

The Cavaliers have already exercised Mobley’s club option of $11.2 million for the 2024-25 season.

Mitchell has one season remaining at $35.4 million, as well as a player option for the 2025-26 campaign, but Stein has previously reported that the Cavaliers will trade the star if unable to agree on an extension prior to the season.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently said on his podcast The Hoop Collective that the Cavaliers are “very optimistic” they can extend Mitchell, and speculated that the team would give Mobley a max extension this summer.

With both players extended, the Cavaliers could still look to make some change after this core fell short of a deep playoff run. That could open the door for a potential Mitchell trade.

Allen has previously been connected with the New Orleans Pelicans, a team Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported had interest in the veteran center this season. If Jonas Valančiūnas walks in free agency, the Pelicans could be in need of a starting center and would make sense as a potential trade partner.