Report: Pelicans Interested In Trading For Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen

According to NBA insider Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid, the New Orleans Pelicans are interested in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland and center Jarrett Allen. 

The Cavaliers could trade Garland and/or Allen this offseason. 

Cleveland is interested in acquiring Brandon Ingram from New Orleans, a source told Hoops Wire. 

Garland averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists for the Cavaliers this season while shooting 44.6% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 83.4% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $36.7 million next season.

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.  

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, “it is believed” Garland will request a trade if Donovan Mitchell signs an extension with the Cavaliers.

Meanwhile, multiple teams around the league are interested in acquiring Allen. 

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.

The Cavaliers will hire a new head coach before making roster moves. Mitchell is expected to sign a contract extension with Cleveland, although in the NBA, nothing is guaranteed until the player puts pen to paper. 

In their coaching search, the Cavaliers have been linked to Johnnie Bryant, Terry Stotts, David Adelman, Kenny Atkinson, Chris Quinn, James Borrego, Micah Nori, Dave Joerger, Alex Jensen and Steve Hetzel.

An NBA executive told Hoops Wire that the Cavaliers should hire Bryant as their next head coach to “appease” Mitchell. Bryant worked closely with Mitchell on the Utah Jazz. The two have a very close relationship.