Proposed Cavs trade with Raptors swaps Allen for Anunoby

It’s no mystery that the Cleveland Cavaliers have a need on the wing. They had All-Stars last season at the 1 and the 5 — that is, at point guard with Darius Garland and at center with Jarrett Allen. Evan Mobley just missed out on Rookie of the Year and was incredible at the 4 (power forward).

What about between the two? Having dynamic two-way wings is the best way to field a contender, and the Cavs lack elite talent in the middle of their lineup. They have invested a lot of resources into trying to find long-term options, from drafting Collin Sexton and Isaac Okoro to trading for Lauri Markkanen and Caris LeVert, and while each of those players contributes something to the team they haven’t landed on a no-doubt option on the wing.

Would this proposed Cleveland Cavaliers trade with the Toronto Raptors swapping Jarrett Allen for OG Anunoby be one the Cavs should accept?

A few hundred miles to the north, the Toronto Raptors are absolutely flush with wings and forwards, players with size and defensive chops who unlocked a fearsome switch-heavy scheme for a team that may have made a postseason run if injuries hadn’t struck. They struggled to find a reliable center, cycling through big forwards but never having true size or rim protection in the middle.

Those two needs, the Cavs for a two-way forward and the Raps for a center with size, led to Bleacher Report floating this potential trade:

This is a fascinating trade idea. Many Cavs fans likely balk at the idea of trading a young rising star who just made an All-Star team, but let’s shake off the gut reactions and look deeper. Why might the Raptors do this deal? And the Cavs? Let’s examine this from both sides and then come to a conclusion on whether the Cavs would pull the trigger.