Why the Cleveland Cavaliers would say yes to this Jarrett Allen trade:
This is about more than just replacing Jarrett Allen for a cheaper player in Evan Mobley. This is all about asset management for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even if you are only getting 80 cents for a dollar, it is better to get something for an asset than to simply let it walk away.
Again, the right things would have to fall in place for this to happen. Mobley would have to fall to three and Allen would have to have a hot market in free agency. If Allen does not have a hot market then it makes sense to sign him for a moderate deal with the plan of eventually flipping it when the time is right.
However, is his market is hot and teams are offering him a big contract that the Cavaliers would have to match then it makes sense to flip him. There would be two options in this scenario: the Cavaliers could either match Allen’s, let’s say, $25 million salary and trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers for something. Or, they could not match it and just let him walk for nothing.
Dennis Schroder is a quality guard that is great at putting up big numbers on bad teams. He is a perfect player to go to Cleveland to thrive with the Cavs having the sole intent of eventually flipping him for more assets. Kyle Kuzma is another piece to the young core that they are building out there and is established.
Finally, the Cavs would get another first-round pick, all for a player who could have walked away and given the team nothing in return.