Trade Proposal Sends Jarrett Allen To Pelicans, Dyson Daniels And Larry Nance Jr. To Cavaliers

One NBA writer proposed that the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans complete a trade with each other this offseason. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Pelicans and Cavaliers:

The trade: The Cleveland Cavaliers trade Jarrett Allen to the New Orleans Pelicans for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr. and the No. 21 pick

The Pelicans are interested in acquiring Allen from the Cavaliers, sources told Hoops Wire. 

Sources said that Cleveland could trade Allen this offseason. 

“For all of the focus on Cleveland’s backcourt, this campaign did little to disprove the notion that Allen and Evan Mobley can’t coexist long-term up front,” Buckley wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “Their shared minutes during the regular season were a tick above breaking even (plus-0.9 points per 100 possessions), while their shared efficiency in the playoffs sank into the red (minus-3.1). Allen appears very much on the market, and he could draw significant interest from a team like the Pelicans, who need an upgrade at center.

“This wouldn’t be an enormous return for Cleveland, but it could grow to become that. Daniels is a 6’8″ playmaker who already ranks favorably among the Association’s most versatile defenders. A first-round pick always has the chance to deliver a hooper. And Nance is rock-solid at center and is probably easier to pair with Mobley.”

Allen, who has two years and $40 million left on his contract, averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks this season while shooting 63.4% from the field and 74.2% from the free-throw line.  

The Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic in the first round of this year’s postseason in seven games but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in five games. Allen missed the Celtics series with a rib injury. 

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, some members of the Cavaliers were frustrated Allen refused an injection to try and numb the pain in his rib and play.

Daniels averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Pelicans this season while shooting 44.7% from the floor, 31.1% from 3 and 64.2% from the foul line. He’s only 21. 

Nance Jr., who has played 182 games for the Cavaliers, averaged 5.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists this season while shooting 57.3% from the field, 41.5% from beyond the arc and 77.0% from the free-throw line. 

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

New Orleans is not expected to run it back roster-wise, sources said.