4 Players Pelicans might replace Valanciunas with by the trade deadline
By Mat Issa
3. Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Speaking of a change of guard, Evan Mobley has shown signs of being a generational defensive anchor. Last season, he was building up steam in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation and ended up earning a First Team All-Defense nomination.
He’s looking more and more like someone who could anchor an elite defense on his lonesome. And after the New York Knicks exposed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lack of spacing last postseason, they may be looking to move Jarrett Allen in favor of adding more shooting/spacing.
We’ve already had some reported interest in trading for him. And unlike the Cavaliers, the Pelicans haven’t had their spacing exposed in a playoff setting. Plus, with an offensive engine like Zion Williamson, they may be able to get away with having a little less spacing on the floor. So, they could be willing to deal with Allen’s lack of spacing in order to boost their rim protection.
Allen is younger (25 compared to 29) and a better rim protector than Capela. And he’s much less injury-prone than Williams (he played in 65 games last year, Williams played in 35).
Allen gives the Pelicans the boost in rim protection they need while also avoiding the tradeoffs that come with Capela and Williams. Grabbing him would probably be the best-case scenario of anyone on the list. Now, it’s just a matter of him becoming available.