In professional sports, there’s nothing worse than injuries. The 2023-24 NBA season is young, but we’ve already seen injuries impact plans. That’s unfortunate, but as with anything, we can try to find a silver lining.
Sometimes, an injury can show you something about your roster. Perhaps another player steps up in a more prominent player’s absence. An injury may force a player to switch positions. Who knows? Perhaps they’ll thrive once they get there.
Take the Cleveland Cavaliers. They’ve been without Jarrett Allen for their entire season thus far. They’ve also been without Darius Garland for most of it.
As it turns out, the Cavs are missing Garland more than Allen. Evan Mobley has done a fine job slotting a position and playing the 5. Could the Cavs trade Allen as a result?
NBA Trade Proposal — Los Angeles Lakers Land Jarrett Allen
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G D’Angelo Russell, G/F Cam Reddish
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: C Jarrett Allen
We don’t mean to celebrate injuries. That would be in poor taste. There is a human element here. These are real people. Not only are they experiencing physical pain, but their careers can be in jeopardy as well.
Yet, injuries are an inevitable component of professional sports. This is going to happen. These men are playing at the highest level. There will be an inevitable strain on their bodies. Meanwhile, the NBA is a big business. Teams invest a lot in a player – they hate to see them on the shelf for a wide range of reasons.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Look at the Cavaliers. That’s a combined $54 million on the injury list between Garland and Allen. That may sound cold, but it’s a reality. The Cavaliers are suffering as a result.
Does this deal ease their pain?
Why The Cleveland Cavaliers Do The Deal
Mobley is one of several young big men with some positional ambiguity. Should he leverage his size at the four or his mobility at the five? This is something that the Cavaliers will have to wrestle with moving forward.
Yet, it’s a moot point as far as the present is concerned. Perhaps Mobley will be maximized at the four, but if so, they’re going to want a stretch big man next to him.
Mobley isn’t currently much of a floor spacer. That’s made his partnership with Jarrett Allen complicated. The Cavaliers may want to move him to the five for the time being and sort out his long-term position later.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Meanwhile, their offense seems to collapse without Garland. The Cavaliers could use a more reliable backup. They’re getting one here in Russell. Finally, taking a flyer on Reddish makes sense for a team with weak wing depth.
Should the Lakers give up both of these players for Allen?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
Arguably, we’re contradicting ourselves. The Cavaliers are giving up on the Allen/Mobley partnership because it lacks spacing. OK. So why would the Lakers assemble a frontcourt of Allen and Anthony Davis?
Well, LeBron James has a way of solving problems. The Lakers won an NBA championship by playing Davis alongside a traditional big man. They’ve got some proof of concept here. The Lakers have made this work before – why wouldn’t it work again?
They won’t want to rush into this deal. Allen’s injury status is somewhat unclear. If he’s likely to have lingering problems throughout the season, they’ll look for another target.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
With that said, if Allen comes back strong, the Lakers could build an elite defense by acquiring him. They’ll simply have to hope that he doesn’t get hurt again.
