Ranking 5 lucrative trade packages for Cavaliers to deal Allen for

Trading Jarrett Allen is on the table for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whether or not they actually move on from him this offseason, and no matter what they say publicly, it’s almost certain that they have had internal and external discussions about the prospect of moving Allen.

The question becomes: what are they trading him for? If they are down on Allen because of his play in the postseason, do they look for an upgrade at center? Are they trying to add a high-end two-way wing? Or would they break Allen into multiple pieces in order to fill out their depth?

Over the past weeks we have discussed a number of potential trades, some suggested by NBA reporters and media, and some we created ourselves. Which deal is the best for the Cavs to consider for Allen? Let’s walk through five different deals to highlight the breadth of options available and rank them from worst to best.

Trade No. 5: Jarrett Allen for Lugentz Dort

Ryen Russilo of The Ringer pitched a trade involving Jarrett Allen that would bring back a tough, defensive wing from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Allen would head West, while Lugentz Dort would join the Cavaliers. The Thunder seem locked into playing small and not having a traditional center, but perhaps that’s just because they haven’t found the right player yet.

From Cleveland’s side, this deal makes very little sense. Yes, Dort is a talented defender and a better scoring threat than Isaac Okoro, but the Cavs don’t need non-shooting wings no matter how good their defense is. Losing an elite rim protector for a high-end perimeter defender would hurt their overall defense, and for no real offensive addition.