Jarrett Allen reportedly has real trade value

Allen could be the Cavaliers best trade chip.

The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t appear ready to shuffle the deck just yet. But if that changes — Jarrett Allen might be the odd man out who can yield them the biggest return.

Brian Windhorst said on ESPN Cleveland that he believes Allen would “definitely” return value on the trade market. However, new head coach Kenny Atkinson and Koby Altman appear intent on keeping Allen in a Cavalier uniform. “I don’t think they are trading him,” Windhorst concluded.

Allen is coming off arguably the best season of his career, anchoring a decimated Cavalier roster to a top-10 defensive rating and dominating the Orlando Magic in the opening games of the playoffs before a cracked rib brought Allen’s redemption tour to an abrupt stop.

Numerous teams could benefit from Allen’s rim-running skills. At the top of that list are the New Orleans Pelicans who are rumored to have held an interest in Allen for quite some time. With Brandon Ingram matching the archetype of Cleveland’s biggest need — and Allen doing the same for NOLA — a potential swap makes sense on paper. Though, neither team appears willing to press the button.

Cleveland’s front office has consistently shrugged off the pressure to split its core four. The decision to trade for Donovan Mitchell in 2022 was predicated on the belief that his superstar presence would coincide with the long-term development of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. So far, the Cavs appear content to keep that faith.

Ensuring a seamless fit across the core is the challenge. Brief moments of chemistry have given enough justification to believe in this group but a sustained run of success together, specifically in the postseason, will be what it takes to solidify their fit. Whether or not that’s possible is yet to be seen.