The Los Angeles Lakers should be targeting Jarrett Allen as the long-term center to put next to Luka Doncic. The former All-Star is an elite rebounder, roll man, rim protector, and finisher in the paint. He checks all the boxes to have success playing off number 77 and would be a massive upgrade over Deandre Ayton.
The Lakers signed Ayton after he was bought out by the Blazers in the offseason. He was always a stopgap option, and it is not working. The big man has benched down the stretch in several games and is simply not working out. LA needs an upgrade to have a shot at serious title contention.
The Cavaliers held firm in keeping their core four together for years, but that changed when they traded Darius Garland for James Harden on Tuesday. Cleveland is clearly all-in on right now and is rumored to be exploring deals (subscription required) for Allen. The purple and gold should be making the call.
Jarrett Allen is the perfect center to pair with Luka Doncic
Luka made his wish clear the moment he arrived in Los Angeles. He wants a big man to be his pick-and-roll partner. Fans know Doncic is one of the best creators in the world, and he needs someone to set screens to be at his best.
Allen operates as a roll man on 2.8 possessions per game, which is the eighth-most in the NBA. His team scores 1.1 points per possession on those looks, which is in the top 50 percent of the league. Those numbers would likely improve with Luka feeding him the ball.
The Lakers rank 25th in defensive rating and desperately need someone to anchor their unit. The opposition is shooting just 61.1 percent against Allen in the restricted area. The Cavaliers rank second in that category, with only the Thunder performing better than Allen’s number. He is an elite rim protector and right on Luka’s age timeline.
Allen averages 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.9 blocks in 27.1 minutes per game this season. He led the league in field goal percentage last year and remains an elite finisher. The 6’9 big man would offer Los Angeles a boost on both ends of the floor and make them a serious threat to win it all.
Jarrett Allen doesn’t get the respect he deserves. The big man anchored a top ten defense last season as Cleveland had the best record in the Eastern Conference. They suffered a disappointing second-round playoff exit, but that wasn’t on Allen. He shot over 72 percent from the field, and the Cavs outscored the opposition in Allen’s postseason minutes by 73 points.
The Los Angeles Lakers want a two-way force at center, and Jarrett Allen is the perfect fit. The Cavaliers gave up a draft pick with Darius Garland to get James Harden. The Lakers should make the call and see if they can land Allen. He is on the trade block and would be an ideal long-term fit.