Lakers May Have Found the (Near) Perfect Ayton Upgrade

As the Cleveland Cavaliers charge toward an active trade deadline, fans and insiders believe the Los Angeles Lakers could jump in to earn the upgrade they desperately need.

Lakers May Have Found the (Near) Perfect Ayton Upgrade

Cavs Exploring Jarrett Allen Trades

Days after acquiring Keon Ellis and hours after entering “advanced talks” for James Harden, Koby Altman and the Cavs aren’t stopping there. The team is reportedly exploring trades around 2022 All-Star Jarrett Allen. Their 6’9″ shot stuffer is fresh off a career performance: a 40-point, 17-rebound night against the Portland Trail Blazers. He rounded out the evening with five assists, four blocks and two steals.

The Athletic’s Sam Amick confirmed those rumors Tuesday, writing:

“While Cleveland has won eight of its last 10 games — nothing to sneeze at, to be sure — the fact remains that the Cavs hovered around the .500 mark (22-19) when the halfway point of the season hit. Their second-apron status has been well chronicled, but league sources say they’ve explored ways of trading the contract of big man Jarrett Allen ($90.7 million combined in the next three seasons) as a way of unlocking much bigger possibilities.

“That situation is worth monitoring, if only because moving Allen would expand their list of dreamy possibilities. Donovan Mitchell is extension eligible this summer, with a player option in the 2027 offseason that surely applies organizational pressure in times like these, so it’s safe to say that the Cavs are looking at any and all options.”

In 39 starts for Cleveland this season, the 27-year-old center has averaged exactly 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists per game while chipping in a steal and a block defensively. He has also shot 60.5% from the field, 11% from deep (1/9) and 75.5% from the free-throw line.