Report: Pelicans Could Try To Acquire Jarrett Allen From Cavaliers This Offseason

NBA insider Will Guillory of The Athletic thinks the New Orleans Pelicans could try to acquire Jarrett Allen from the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason. 

The Pelicans tried to trade for Allen this season, sources told Hoops Wire, but the Cavaliers were not interested in trading the Texas product. 

“I think Jarrett Allen is another guy the Pelicans would be interested in for their center position,” Guillory told Michael Scotto on the HoopsHype podcast. 

Allen appeared in 77 games for the Cavaliers this season. He averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 63.4% from the field and 74.2% from the free-throw line. 

Scotto is reporting that Jonas Valančiūnas likely won’t return to the Pelicans.

Allen played for Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon when Langdon was a Brooklyn Nets executive.

Allen will make $20 million next season in the final year of his contract. He has career averages of 12.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.3 blocks with the Nets and Cavaliers. 

Everything Cleveland does this summer will revolve around Donovan Mitchell, who can sign an extension for up to four years and around $200 million. He has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season.

Mitchell can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines that player option.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is a growing belief that the Cavaliers will be forced to trade Mitchell if an extension isn’t reached.

“As discussed here on multiple occasions, Mitchell will be entering the final guaranteed year of his current contract next season if there’s no extension, leading to a growing belief among rival teams that the Cavaliers will be forced to trade Mitchell in coming months if they cannot come to terms with him an extension,” Stein wrote. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are tied 1-1 with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.