One NBA writer is proposing that the Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Jonas Valanciunas and Jose Alvarado from the New Orleans Pelicans in a bold deal. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Pelicans and Cavaliers:
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Jarrett Allen
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Jonas Valančiūnas, Jose Alvarado and a 2027 first-round pick (top-five-protected)
“Valančiūnas isn’t a knockdown shooter by any means, but defenses can’t completely ignore him outside (35.6 three-point percentage over the past two seasons). Plus, without Allen around, Cleveland could be more willing to experiment with small-ball lineups featuring Mobley at center,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Fill the 4 spot with someone like Georges Niang or Max Strus, and Cavs guards would have tons of breathing room and myriad opportunities to attack.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jonas Valanciunas, Jose Alvarado, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans Updates
“New Orleans could be hesitant to part with Alvarado, but that’s a sacrifice it could make if it thinks Dyson Daniels is ready for a rotation role. Cleveland could covet Alvarado as an energizer, but it might also just need a backup point guard with Ricky Rubio still away from the team to focus on his mental health.”
Valanciunas averaged 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Pelicans last season in 79 games, while Alvarado put up 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in 61 appearances.
The Cavaliers, who lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games, could start Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Valanciunas if Cleveland’s front office figured out a way to acquire Valanciunas and Alvarado from New Orleans.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jonas Valanciunas, Jose Alvarado, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans Updates
Valanciunas has career NBA averages of 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. Meanwhile, Alvarado has career averages of 7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
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