The New Orleans Pelicans' biggest weakness in their starting lineup is obvious: the center spot. I’ve started to come around to the idea that a tandem split of Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic at the center spot can be serviceable enough for New Orleans this year with the rest of their supporting cast. However, if I, or probably any Pelicans fan, could select one position in the starting five to upgrade, it would likely be center.
Now, I’ve gone over plenty of potential center trade targets during my time covering the Pelicans, and one name I’ve altered my stance on over time is Jarrett Allen.
For a bit, the idea of Allen’s rim protection, rebounding, and play finishing alongside Zion Williamson excited me, but following the 2026 playoffs, that intrigue completely faded. I started to notice that Allen tends to dominate matchups against lesser competition and often struggles against the elite teams.
This is what makes recent online rumors from Cleveland sports reporter Nick Pedone suggesting the Pelicans are interested in Allen so concerning, especially when people are attaching Trey Murphy III's name to a potential deal.
Jarrett Allen doesn't raise the Pelicans' ceiling enough
Trading for Allen would give New Orleans a center upgrade for sure, but in the long term it may set them back because of his contract and the likely asking price. We’ve seen for several years now that the Evan Mobley and Allen frontcourt has had plenty of chances, and while I don't think the Cavs are desperate to change things, they’re probably open to it. But with players like James Harden and a freshly extended Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland isn’t planning on stepping away from trying to be contenders, so young assets and picks wouldn’t interest them in an Allen deal.
This has led many to mention Murphy III's name in an Allen swap because they share similar contracts, and the Cavs have long been searching for a wing with his traits and style of play. His size, three-point shooting, and raw athleticism would complement Cleveland's core incredibly well, but the value he and Allen carry is completely different.
Allen is 28 years old with three years left on his contract worth over $90 million, while Murphy III is 26 and just hitting his prime, with three years left on a deal worth less than $90 million. From a straight money standpoint, a swap would almost be guaranteed to age poorly for New Orleans.
Allen doesn’t move the needle enough for New Orleans to justify a trade. It would be one thing to trade Murphy III to a team for future picks, young talent, and still add a center upgrade. But the idea of an Allen-for-Murphy III swap is something Cavs fans keep for NBA 2K, because it’s never going to happen.
This isn’t just me saying this either. We’ve heard from several reports that the Pelicans are firm on Murphy III’s high price tag and aren’t going to trade him because teams around the league want him. So while Allen would address a major need, the gap in value is too large for the Pelicans to entertain trading their most valuable asset.
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