With Austin Reaves set to sign a four-year, $185 million contract within the next few weeks, the next big domino to fall for the Los Angeles Lakers when it comes to free agency is what LeBron James will do.
He made $52.6 million this season, and it seems highly unlikely that the Lakers, who could have roughly $50 million in salary cap space, will offer him that kind of money to stick around. If for no other reason, they will likely ask him to take a pay cut in order to facilitate bringing in at least one outside player who would address their roster needs.
Of course, all that is moot if James decides to leave. If he does leave, it looks like his likeliest destination is the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he spent his first seven NBA seasons with and then returned to in 2014 for four more years.
Brian Windhorst said on ESPN Cleveland that if James does want to return to the Cavaliers, and it happens through a sign-and-trade, the Lakers would love to get center Jarrett Allen in return.
“There is a thought process out there in Los Angeles — and I think if the Cavs were interested in this, the Lakers would sit up at attention right now — that they would sign-and-trade LeBron for Jarrett Allen,” Windhorst said. “And I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they could have LeBron.
“Obviously, LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs. But your pathway to pay LeBron the money is to trade Jarrett Allen for him. The Lakers would kill for Jarrett Allen. Kill for him! They would do that deal in 17 tenths of a second.”
Allen is the type of center who would help the Lakers take a step forward toward true championship contention. He may not be a true offensive threat in terms of being able to call his own number, but he is an excellent rebounder and defender, as well as a lob threat. This season, he averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, one steal and 0.8 blocks in 27.1 minutes a game.
Of course, one has to wonder why the Cavs would be willing to send Allen, who was an All-Star in 2022, to the Lakers and weaken their own roster. They’re coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference finals, and losing Allen would hurt their chances of returning to the NBA Finals, even with James in the fold.
The center position is considered by many to be arguably L.A.’s biggest deficiency. Starter Deandre Ayton, who has a player option for next season, played well at times but has always had issues with his motor and consistency, and backup Jaxson Hayes, who has limited utility, is about to become a free agent.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Windhorst: Lakers willing to sign-and-trade LeBron for Jarrett Allen
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
