The 2026 trade deadline felt a little too quiet until last night's bombshell that the Clippers and Cavaliers had been discussing a James Harden for Darius Garland swap.
The reports about Garland were followed this morning by the Athletic's Sam Amick, who reported that the Cavs are now taking calls on Jarrett Allen. This is where I see the New Orleans Pelicans potentially coming in, as Allen would be the perfect long-term center option alongside Derik Queen in the front court.
On top of that, the Pelicans have a ton of assets that would likely intrigue Cleveland as they try to improve their roster over the next two days.
This is a great opportunity for the Pelicans
When looking at what the Pelicans can offer, there are very different paths. First, if the Cavs are looking to enter the Giannis sweepstakes, they can dangle that 2027 Bucks first-round pick they own. If they are looking for defensive versatility on the wing and guard play after trading Garland, consider Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones. Or if they want the home run play, maybe they take a flier on Zion Williamson, who just appeared in his 26th straight game the other night, which is the most consecutive games he's played in his career.
One player that would likely be in any trade for Allen would be Yves Missi, as with him already being in trade talks and on a small rookie scale deal, he could be a cost-effective replacement for the Cavs.
When talking about Allen coming in to help out Queen in the front court, it's not because DQ has been bad when playing the five this season, but the NBA is all about size today. And frankly, when Queen is the only big out there, the team gets outmatched in that department.
Over the last 4 years in Cleveland, we've seen that Allen is more than capable of sharing the front court with another big man without losing his impact. He's aware of where to be and how to give the other big in his current case, Evan Mobley, enough space to operate on both sides of the ball. This is why he is perfect with Queen, as he would still give DQ the spacing needed for him to do everything that makes him special, like initiate the offense from the top of the three-point arc. While filling the void for a back line rim protection and an elite screen and roller.
Allen's stats aren't nearly as good as they were back in 2022, when he was named an All-Star—he's still had a strong year. This season, he's averaging 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in 5.2 fewer minutes per game than his All-Star season. Not to mention, he also just had one of the best games of his career Sunday, putting up 40 points and 17 rebounds against Portland.
Jarrett Allen gives the Pelicans a chance to finally stabilize the frontcourt around Derik Queen. At 27 years old and under contract for three more seasons, he fits the timeline and fills two desperate needs in elite rim protection and physicality. If New Orleans is serious about building around Queen, this is a move they have to make, not just for the present but for the future.